Sir Jero's Digital Hub: Marketing, Finance & Technology

In late quarter three of 2024, the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) hired me as an individual consultant to assess the state of Liberia’s digital economy.

I analyzed its scope, current impacts, regulatory landscape, challenges, and a proposed implementation framework to drive growth, innovation, and inclusion. The report used surveys (31 respondents), interviews (23 stakeholders), literature reviews, and global benchmarks to show how digital transformation can raise GDP (currently less than 5% from digital sources), close the gap between cities and rural areas, and improve areas like finance, education, and government services. It highlighted COVID-19’s role in accelerating online adoption but noted persistent gaps in infrastructure and skills.

Below is a quick summary of the full report.

Current State and Impact (2023–2024)

Liberia’s digital economy is nascent, with progress in mobile money (e.g., MTN and Orange Money expanding financial inclusion) and 4G rollout in urban areas. Key 2024 activities include:

• Infrastructure: ACE submarine cable disruptions caused widespread blackouts (e.g., a 3-day outage in March–April), exposing vulnerabilities; Starlink’s 1-year license and the Amilcar Cabral cable (via AC3 Liberia) promise redundancy and rural access.
• Education: LTA’s 10,000-youth digital initiative, the University of Liberia’s “LUX AI” tutor, and UNIPOD (a UNDP-backed innovation hub with a ~$900K investment) foster AI and entrepreneurship.
• Policies: LTA’s Consumer Protection Regulations (“The People’s Regulations”); public protests over data pricing; new National ICT Policy 2025–2030; e-Government strategy with Ghanaian consultants.

Impacts are mixed: Digital tools have grown revenue (e.g., mobile money) and connectivity but contribute minimally to GDP due to low utilization (urban-rural divide).

Scope and Elements

The digital economy encompasses economic activities via digital tech, including production/delivery of goods/services, business processes, and interactions. Core components:

• Digital Infrastructure: Fiber optics, mobile towers, data centers.
• Digital Transactions: E-commerce, mobile payments, digital government.
• Digital Services: E-learning, telemedicine, and online media.
• Digital Innovation: Software/IT services, startups, and skills training.

Regulatory Review

Existing frameworks (e.g., the 2007 Telecom Act, CBL mobile money guidelines) provide basics but lack depth. An August 2024 LTA-CBL MOU aims to boost financial-telecom integration.

Sector	Policy Existence	Coverage	Key Bodies	Implementation Level	Effectiveness
Telecommunications	High	Moderate	LTA, MOPT	Moderate	Moderate
Digital Finance	Moderate	Limited	CBL, MFDP	Moderate	Limited
E-Commerce	Limited	Minimal	MOCI, LRA	Limited	Limited
Digital Services	Limited	Minimal	Multiple	Limited	Minimal
Cybersecurity	Minimal	Minimal	Multiple	Minimal	Minimal
Data Protection	Minimal	Minimal	Nonspecific	Minimal	Minimal

Challenges and Gaps:

• Telecom faces high costs, issues with rural coverage, and gaps in enforcement of sharing regulations.
• Digital finance has interoperability limits, high fees, and a lack of cross-border rules.
• E-Commerce: Logistics/trust barriers; no dedicated laws.
• Overall: Fragmented enforcement, low skills, and cyber vulnerabilities (e.g., LTA’s October 2024 conference addressed rising threats).

Impacts of Regulations:

• Positive: LTA’s unified licensing spurred competition; CBL rules enabled rural agent banking; MOCI eased online registrations.
• Negative: High fees deter startups; slow approvals delay expansion; no data laws erode trust.

Proposed Implementation Framework

A 5-stage, phased roadmap adaptable to local resources, emphasizing stakeholder coordination (e.g., LTA, CBL, MoPT, MFDP).

Stage	Description	Key Components	Oversight Bodies	Requirements
1: Foundation	Basic infrastructure/enabling environment	Fiber/mobile networks, digital literacy, initial regulations/payments	MoPT, LTA, CBL	Basic connectivity, telecom laws, literacy training, infrastructure funding
2: Integration	Connect systems/services	Interoperable payments, e-Gov/digital ID	CBL, MFDP, MOCI, NIR	Enhanced bandwidth, financial regulations, technical skills, integration funding
3: Innovation	Build new services/solutions	Startups, e-commerce, online education	Multiple (e.g., NIC)	Cloud infra, e-commerce frameworks, advanced skills, innovation funding
4: Transformation	Reshape traditional sectors	Digital business adoption, smart cities, e-health	MOCI, MoH	Advanced data centers, data protection laws, tech expertise, sector funding
5: Optimization	Enhance efficiency	AI/IoT/blockchain, analytics, cybersecurity	Multiple	5G/edge computing, advanced regs, innovation capabilities, tech investment

Success requires phased rollout, monitoring, sustainable funding, and metrics.

Recommendations

• Policy/Regulatory: Harmonize frameworks (e.g., data protection laws, e-commerce updates); create unified ID/reporting; introduce fintech sandboxes.
• Infrastructure: Fast-track approvals via public-private partnerships; prioritize rural fiber/Starlink integration.
• Innovation/Support: Incentives for local apps/services; regulatory sandboxes for nascent tech.
• Consumer Protection: Overarching data laws; specialized digital arbitration; cyber enforcement.
• Inclusion/Capacity: Review capital rules for affordability, rural access programs, training regulators/staff, and international cooperation.
• General: Phased cluster development; adaptability to tech like AI/IoT.

Conclusion

Liberia’s digital economy offers transformative potential for GDP growth, jobs, and services but faces hurdles like infrastructure gaps and regulatory silos. The framework provides a structured path, urging government, business, and partners to invest collaboratively. Success hinges on balancing vision with practical change management to ensure equitable digital dividends for all Liberians.

Only by adopting innovation and leading industry developments can we build relationships.

Download the full report here: https://yattoh.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/consultancy-report-on-the-digital-economy-of-liberia-v2.pdf