The Authorities of america has praised the Liberian authorities’s dedication to honoring its concession settlement with U.S. investor, Liberia Site visitors Administration (LTM).
By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia; August 28, 2025 – The Authorities of america of America, by its Embassy close to Monrovia, has expressed appreciation for the Liberian authorities’s dedication to honoring its concession settlement with U.S. investor Liberia Site visitors Administration (LTM). The Embassy emphasised that LTM’s operations are meant to help modernized site visitors security and administration throughout Liberia.
The U.S. commendation comes amid a wave of protests from staff of the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and industrial drivers, who’ve described the deal as dangerous to Liberia’s pursuits.
Critics declare the 25-year concession is growing monetary burden of drivers, imposing excessive charges, and outsourcing crucial authorities features to a overseas entity, resulting in job losses for Liberians.
“The CDA additionally famous with appreciation the federal government’s dedication to honoring the concession with U.S. investor Liberia Site visitors Administration (LTM), whose operations help modernized site visitors security and administration”, a press release issued by the embassy says.
Chargé d’Affaires Joseph Zadrozny, met with Mamaka Bility, Liberia’s Minister of State With out Portfolio and Performing Minister of State. Their discussions centered on advancing shared U.S.-Liberia pursuits by stronger bilateral commerce and funding.
Through the assembly, Mr. Zadrozny additionally welcomed the Liberian authorities’s announcement of plans to nominate a frontrunner to implement Government Order 136, which establishes a Nationwide Rail Authority to enhance the administration of Liberia’s railway infrastructure.
“America stays dedicated to strengthening financial partnerships that foster funding, drive development, and create alternatives for the individuals of Liberia,” the assertion provides.
Regardless of the U.S. help, the concession has sparked home unrest. At the very least 265 staff of the Ministry of Transport are prone to dropping their jobs following the transition of key providers to LTM.
Workers on the Ministry have staged ongoing protests, calling the deal an “illegal outsourcing” of core public providers. Underneath the phrases of the settlement, LTM has been granted unique management over features, together with automobile registration, driver’s licensing, site visitors enforcement, toll assortment, and automobile inspection providers.
These obligations had been historically dealt with by the Ministry of Transport.
Including to the tensions, industrial drivers throughout a number of counties have launched rounds of “go-slow” right here. The protest, organized by the ECOWAS Transport Union and the Federation of Highway Transport Union of Liberia (FRTUL), lined counties together with Margibi, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Gbarpolu.
Drivers voiced sturdy considerations about what they describe as arbitrary enforcement and exorbitant fines below the brand new system. Many declare they’re being focused unfairly by LTM personnel and site visitors enforcement brokers.
Fines reportedly vary from US$20 to $150, even when legitimate documentation is offered. A number of drivers have alleged they had been fined a number of occasions for a similar violation by completely different officers. Others highlighted the existence of night-time checkpoints, which they are saying have turn out to be websites for harassment and extortion.
Whereas the U.S. views the LTM concession as a step towards modernized infrastructure and funding, its implementation has drawn fierce backlash from Liberian residents and public staff. The strain underscores a broader dilemma dealing with Liberia, stability overseas funding and modernization with transparency, job safety, and nationwide management over important public providers.
As considerations and public stress mount, the Liberian authorities faces crucial choices about handle public sector reform, safeguard employment, and guarantee accountability in partnerships with worldwide buyers. Modifying by Jonathan Browne
