MONROVIA — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has announced plans to de-monopolize the Freeport of Monrovia, signaling a major shift in Liberia’s port operations even as his administration weighs whether to approve or veto controversial port decentralization legislation. “The National Port Authority remains a critical gateway to Liberia’s economy,” President Boakai said. International development expert Ambulah Mamey explained that APM Terminals’ concession gives top priority to containerized cargo, not bulk cargo such as rice, cement, and heavy equipment. “As a result, bulk cargo ships sometimes wait for weeks—sometimes up to three months—for APMT to finish container offloading,” Mamey said. On public transportation, President Boakai acknowledged longstanding neglect at the National Transit Authority (NTA) but said reforms are underway.
