Liberia: Joseph Boakai promulgates the reform that decentralizes the ports.

The new organization provides for autonomous authorities for the ports of Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville, and Harper, as well as a national body responsible for regulating the sector. The NPA had managed the entire public port network since its establishment in 1967.

The House of Representatives approved a revised package on July 14 after the Senate vote in March. The texts were then forwarded to the head of state for promulgation.

This version results from a long institutional controversy. Joseph Boakai had vetoed a previous draft, citing overlaps in jurisdiction, risks to Liberia’s international maritime obligations, and deficiencies in the control mechanism.

Four ports set to gain autonomy

Proponents of the reform believe that autonomous port authorities will be able to make quicker decisions regarding investment, maintenance, and services. The national regulator, for its part, must establish standards and oversee operators.

According to the NPA, the network includes the Freeport of Monrovia, the country’s main port, as well as the ports of Buchanan, Greenville, and Harper. The authority indicates that these facilities together handle over 12.32 million tons of goods.

However, lawmakers, unions, and the Ministry of Justice contested earlier versions of the bill, fearing a fragmentation of control, conflicts with the jurisdiction of the Maritime Authority, and insufficient oversight of port activities.

The accounts of the promulgation do not yet specify the timeline for the establishment of the new authorities, the transfer of personnel and contracts from the NPA, or the financial arrangements for the transition.