Liberia’s transport disaster exploded right into a full-blown political showdown on Monday, August 18,2025 as business drivers throughout Monrovia launched a nationwide strike that paralyzed motion within the capital, whereas workers of the Ministry of Transport continued to demand U.S. sanctions on high authorities officers linked to the controversial Liberia Site visitors Administration Included (LMTI) concession.
By Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
The strike introduced key business hubs, together with Redlight Market to a standstill as scores of drivers parked their autos in solidarity.
They’re demanding the rapid dissolution of the Liberia Site visitors Administration (LTM), which they accuse of duplicating the Ministry of Transport’s function whereas fueling police harassment and extortion.
“The Liberia Site visitors Administration doc isn’t working,” one driver lamented.
“My automotive was positioned on a tow truck, and once I went to LTM, they advised me to return to the police officer who parked my automotive. We’re bored with the embarrassment. Folks should not profit not directly from our struggling.”
Different drivers accused police of seizing licenses and demanding L$3,000 earlier than returning them.
“Over two months now, 1262 can come and arrest our drivers and take their licenses, typically 10 or 15 at a time. All people should pay earlier than they’re returned,” one other driver recounted.
Police Inspector Basic Gregory Coleman, who visited Redlight Market through the protest, acknowledged the grievances however issued a stern warning:
“I’m right here to let you know that nobody ought to impede anybody who decides to run their automotive regardless of the continuing protest. Anyone obstructing those that have determined to run their automotive will likely be arrested,” Coleman stated.
He emphasised that whereas some drivers might select to park, others depend upon every day earnings and shouldn’t be prevented from working.
“Most of your considerations right here have been heard,” he assured whereas urging calm.
However drivers on the scene insisted the police themselves are the issue. Some accused officers of issuing unofficial tickets that don’t mirror authorities income however as a substitute go into private accounts. One driver alleged that an officer claimed to be the brother of Deputy Police Inspector Cllr. Nelson Freeman steadily visits Redlight Market to grab tickets after which demand L$3,000 every for his or her launch.
“We would like one single doc system beneath the Ministry of Transport, not parallel methods that confuse us and put cash in folks’s pockets,” a business driver confused.
Ministry Employees Push for U.S. Sanctions
Whilst drivers staged their protest, the Ministry of Transport employees have since reminded the general public of their earlier petition to the U.S. Embassy.
In a doc signed by Africanous M. Fahnbulleh, Director of Inspectorate on the Ministry, the employees accused 5 high officers of “enjoying central roles” in advancing the
LMTI concession, naming
Police Inspector Basic Gregory O.W. Coleman,
Justice Minister Cllr. Oswald Tweh, Montserrado Senator Saah Joseph, Grand Gedeh Senator Zoe Emmanuel Pennue and
Montserrado District #17 Consultant Bernard Blue Benson.
The petition alleged that LMTI’s management has ties to extremist teams, together with Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda, and warned that the deal poses “important safety dangers and financial hurt to the Liberian folks.”
“Each former Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Weah rejected comparable proposals,” the employees reminded, urging President Joseph Boakai to scrap the settlement instantly.
“That is about nationwide safety,” one Ministry worker advised reporters. “Earlier governments noticed the hazard and refused this deal.
We can’t enable our nation to be bought out beneath the quilt of site visitors administration.”
The employees additional appealed to Washington to impose World Magnitsky sanctions on the accused officers.
Governance Disaster for Boakai
The business drivers’ protest on Monday, August 18,2025 paralyzed transportation, and whereas Transport Ministry employees have additionally since appealed for worldwide intervention, they’ve shortly escalated what started as a dispute over licenses and automobile documentation right into a governance disaster.
The business driver’s strike left hundreds of commuters stranded, with transport fares skyrocketing in some components of Monrovia.
Placing drivers in Redlight vowed to proceed their motion.
“We aren’t preventing. We’ll simply preserve our vehicles parked till Liberia Site visitors Administration is gone.”
The controversy now represents a defining check for President Boakai’s administration, caught between a grassroots road revolt and damning allegations from inside his personal authorities establishments.
