Urges LTIM to Halt All Proceedings and Allow the Ministry of Transport to Resume its Role
By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Monrovia — The Liberian Senate has stepped into a mounting controversy surrounding a major concession agreement between the Ministry of Transport and Liberia Traffic Management Inc., a private foreign-owned company.
In response to increasing public outrage and internal protests, the Senate’s leadership has announced plans to formally engage President Joseph Boakai, urging him to suspend implementation of the deal pending a thorough review.
The Senate’s intervention follows a series of demonstrations by Transport Ministry employees, who claim the 25-year concession was signed without adequate consultation and effectively privatizes core government functions.
Deal Under Scrutiny
The agreement, reportedly grants LTMI exclusive rights over several critical government services, including vehicle registration, driver’s licensing, traffic law enforcement, toll collection, and vehicle inspections.
These services have traditionally been under the purview of the Ministry of Transport, and their transfer to a private entity has sparked widespread concern.
Critics argue the concession could jeopardize national sovereignty, displace hundreds of civil servants, and place sensitive national data and major revenue streams in the hands of a foreign firm.
Civil society groups, workers’ unions, and opposition lawmakers have decried the lack of transparency in the negotiation and signing process.
Senate Raises Red Flags
At the Senate’s 41st sitting on Thursday, July 24, Grand Cape Mount County Senator Dabah Varpilah led the charge in questioning the agreement.
She pointed to what she called “glaring irregularities” and “questionable motives” behind the deal.
“We must ensure that any agreement signed in the name of the Liberian people upholds transparency, protects jobs, and aligns with our long-term national interest,” Senator Varpilah said. “This LTMI deal does not appear to do that.”
President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence echoed these concerns and announced that the Senate would seek a formal audience with President Boakai to discuss suspending LTMI operations until a full review is conducted.
“The Senate, through its oversight responsibility, will meet with the President to seek clarity on what exactly was signed, and what the implications are,” Karnga-Lawrence stated. “Any agreement that impacts national revenue generation, data protection, and job security must be properly scrutinized and inclusive of the people’s voice.”
Worker Protests Escalate
Over the past two weeks, employees of the Ministry of Transport have staged a series of demonstrations and sit-ins at ministry headquarters in Monrovia and across the country.
Protesters have called for the complete cancellation of the LTMI agreement, citing fears of job losses, pension insecurity, and weakened public institutions.
“There was no consultation with us—the people directly affected,” one protesting employee said. “We are being pushed aside for a foreign company that has not proven its capacity to handle such critical responsibilities.”
Many workers question LTMI’s qualifications and warn that public safety could be compromised if essential transport oversight is handed over to a private operator.
A Turning Point in Public-Private Deals?
This high-profile dispute may mark a turning point in how concession agreements are managed in Liberia.
Legislative sources say the Senate is considering a broader review of all major public-private partnerships inked since the Boakai administration took office in January 2024.
Such a move could usher in more rigorous legislative oversight and raise the standard for transparency and public consultation in future deals.
Awaiting Executive Response
As the Senate prepares to engage President Boakai in the coming days, public pressure continues to mount for a decisive and transparent resolution.
Many see this as a key test of the government’s commitment to good governance, national interest, and worker protection.
For now, the fate of the LTMI deal hangs in the balance—awaiting clarity from the country’s highest office.
