Lawmakers seek dialogue with President Boakai, call for suspension and review of transport concession
Amid mounting criticism and growing labor unrest, the Liberian Senate has stepped into the intensifying dispute surrounding a controversial 25-year concession agreement between the Ministry of Transport and Liberia Traffic Management Inc. (LTMI). Senate leadership has announced plans to engage President Joseph Nyuma Boakai directly, advising a suspension of the deal to allow for an independent and thorough review of its terms and implications.
The move signals a critical turning point in what is becoming one of the Boakai administration’s most contentious public-private partnerships, triggering concerns over sovereignty, employment, and national security.
Background of the Controversy
The agreement, signed earlier in 2025, reportedly grants LTMI — a private, foreign-owned company — sweeping control over essential transport services traditionally overseen by the government. These include vehicle registration, driver’s licensing, enforcement of traffic laws, toll collections, and vehicle inspections.
The concession has sparked alarm across multiple sectors. Public sector employees, civil society groups, and lawmakers have raised red flags over the lack of transparency and stakeholder consultation leading up to the deal. Critics argue that the arrangement effectively privatizes critical state functions, jeopardizing both jobs and control over sensitive national data.
Key detractors also point out that the agreement was negotiated behind closed doors, with little to no input from transport ministry staff, labor unions, or relevant oversight bodies.
Senate Raises Alarm
Senator Dabah Varpilah of Grand Cape Mount County brought the issue to the Senate floor during its 41st sitting on July 24. She cited “glaring irregularities” and questioned the motivation behind ceding such wide-ranging responsibilities to a private entity.
“This LTMI deal, in its current form, threatens job security, compromises national data integrity, and undermines state sovereignty,” Varpilah stated. “No concession agreement should be enacted without rigorous review, broad consultation, and alignment with the public interest.”
Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence echoed those concerns, announcing that the Senate leadership will meet with President Boakai to recommend an immediate freeze on all LTMI-related operations.
“As part of our constitutional oversight role, we intend to seek clarity on the structure of the agreement, its legal footing, and its economic implications,” Karnga-Lawrence said. “This is not just a technical or administrative issue — it is fundamentally about transparency, accountability, and the future of public service delivery in Liberia.”
Worker Protests Escalate
Public opposition has been most visible in the form of ongoing protests by Ministry of Transport employees. For over two weeks, workers have staged sit-ins and demonstrations in front of government offices in Monrovia and other regions, demanding the cancellation of the LTMI deal.
Fearing layoffs and the erosion of their benefits, workers argue that the agreement would replace experienced public servants with private contractors and undermine long-term career development within the ministry. Some have also expressed skepticism about LTMI’s capacity to handle the complex regulatory and enforcement responsibilities it would assume.
Protesters insist that if allowed to proceed, the deal could weaken government institutions, reduce accountability, and divert critical revenue streams to an external actor.
Legislative Oversight and Next Steps
The Senate’s intervention marks a shift toward more active legislative oversight of concession agreements. Sources suggest that lawmakers may also pursue a broader review of all major public-private deals signed since President Boakai assumed office in January 2024 — a move that could reframe Liberia’s approach to investment agreements going forward.
While the Executive Mansion has yet to respond publicly, the pressure from the Senate and public outcry may compel the administration to pause implementation and invite a broader national dialogue on the matter.
At stake is more than just a single contract. The LTMI controversy has reignited long-standing debates about how Liberia balances foreign investment with local empowerment, and how transparency in governance is upheld in the face of competing interests.
For now, the nation awaits a decisive response from the Executive — one that will either reaffirm public confidence or deepen the perception of top-down decision-making at the expense of accountability and national interest.
