MONROVIA — Liberia’s financial improvement depends closely on the efficiency of State-owned-Enterprises. These SOE’s embrace business, buying and selling entities and non-commercial entities that present fundamental social companies and regulatory our bodies that present, amongst different issues, electrical energy, water, port companies, airports and so forth. Some regulate companies by allocating licenses, for instance, the Bureau of Maritime Authority, and telecommunications.
By Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]
Over the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, key stakeholders highlighted the significance of the SOE’s. George Wallen, Country Manager of the World Bank says state-owned enterprises (SOEs) play a pivotal function in lots of economies across the globe, serving as engines of development, suppliers of important companies, and catalysts for improvement. She identified that their potential can solely be totally realized when accompanied by strong governance mechanisms that prioritize transparency, accountability, and effectivity. Over the previous few years, this has been Liberia’s downside, failing to get one of the best out of the SOE’s to spark the financial engine.
Controversies swirled over the skyrocketing payroll and salaries of heads of some SoE;s with Senator Gbenzohngar Findley Chairman of the Senate Committee on Revenue, , vowing to make sure that State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) submit the expenditure element of their price range to the Legislature to forestall the questionable spending of funds being generated by them.
The Grand Bassa Senator noticed that the expenditure elements of the budgets of SOEs are decided by their respective Boards, making it unimaginable for members of the primary department of the Liberian authorities (the National Legislature) to totally scrutiny the appropriations of giant spendings, together with the buying of luxurious autos for use by heads of these varied SOEs and others.
Senator Findley emphasised that although each authorities has its personal developmental program or coverage on the way to proceed, the help of SOEs to the ARREST agenda of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai stays vital in direction of supporting the nationwide price range. “What we want to do on the legislative side of this coming budget is to make sure that we receive the budgets of those State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). They are owned by the people of Liberia, and they must answer to the people of Liberia on their spendings. not only their cars, but spendings to see whether it’s in line with the agenda of the government.”
The state of many SoE’s in Liberia’s latest previous has been underwhelming at greatest with many uncertain whether or not the companies of presidency are actually making a lot of an affect on the nationwide financial system.
The truth of the matter, in line with some analysts, is that Liberia’s SoEs quagmire is being sophisticated by underperforming entities and the nationwide authorities’s lack of ability to seek out options to boost these performances.
Part of the issue is the state of many SOEs in Liberia is characterised by excessive ranges of corruption, cronyism and mismanagement, posing extra strain on the financial system.
In 2009, the Public Financial administration Act (2009) mentioned the function of the state-owned Enterprises of the Republic of Liberia beneath a brand new financial governance construction of the nation, emphasizing that the authorities ought to set up the institutional preparations on issues pertaining to the governance and coverage formulation and oversight of state-owned enterprises.
During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai issued three vital Executive Orders geared toward fostering financial development, enhancing nationwide infrastructure, and supporting key state-owned enterprises. These Executive Orders characterize the President’s dedication to addressing pressing nationwide priorities and making certain sustainable improvement.
The Executive Orders are Executive Order No. 138 on Tax Exemption for Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), Executive Order No. 139 for the Suspension of Tariffs on Agricultural Products, and Executive Order No. 140 for the Exemption of Customs Duty for LPRC Projects. Executive Order No. 138: Tax Exemption for Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). The President additionally renewed tax exemptions for the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), making certain that it might probably ship reasonably priced electrical energy to the general public.
While the federal government insists that these Executive Orders show the President’s dedication to fostering financial resilience and enhancing public service supply, some economists should not so certain.
Reliance on overseas support has drawn criticisms from stakeholders and Liberians alike involved that not a lot is being performed to make SoE’s extra impactful and extra significant to the financial system.
It is evident from all initiatives that the SOE’s play main roles to a sustainable financial system as Liberia has been pursuing for the reason that finish of the brutal civil warfare. There are a complete of 20 state owned enterprises (SOE’s) most of that are government-owned (wholly owned), with hundreds of Liberians of their make use of, working a number of sectors together with port companies, airport and civil aviation, electrical energy provide, oil and gasoline, water and sewage, agriculture and forestry, maritime, petroleum importation and storage and data/communications companies. There are various state-owned enterprises (SOEs), a few of which carry out regulatory features for various sectors whereas others have grow to be dysfunctional. The Public Financial Management Law outlines correct regulatory framework for the SOE sector to make sure it fosters the federal government’s improvement agenda.
We proceed our evaluation of the federal government for 2024 by taking a look at these SoE’s and the way a lot affect or lack of–they’d within the 12 months beneath evaluation.
Liberia has 46 state-owned enterprises (SOEs) which might be ruled by boards of administrators and administration groups overseen by authorities ministries, in line with the Bureau of State-Owned Enterprises. All are wholly government-owned and semi-autonomous. The president of Liberia appoints board members and administrators or managers to manipulate and run SOEs. The Public Financial Management (PFM) Act defines the necessities for SOEs.
SOEs make use of greater than 10,000 folks in sectors that embrace airport and seaport companies, electrical energy provide, oil and gasoline, water and sewage, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, maritime, petroleum importation and storage, and data and communication expertise companies. Not all SOEs are worthwhile, and a few residents and advocacy teams have known as for SOEs to be dissolved or privatized. Liberia doesn’t have a clearly outlined company code for SOEs. Reportedly, high-level officers, together with some who sit on SOE boards, affect government-owned enterprises to conduct enterprise in methods not in keeping with customary company governance. Not all SOEs pay taxes, or accomplish that transparently, and SOE income and debt will not be all the time transparently reported or adequately mirrored in nationwide budgets.
CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA
GOVERNOR, Henry F. Saamoi
THE LOWDOWN: The Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) is answerable for attaining and sustaining worth stability within the Liberian financial system. The powers of the Bank are vested in a Board of Governors, answerable for the formulation and implementation of coverage. The Board consists of 5 Governors who’re appointed by the President of Liberia topic to affirmation by the Liberian Senate. The financial institution went by way of a turbulent 2024 within the midst of the suspension of Executive Governor J. Aloysius Tarlue, Jr. and his prime executives together with Nyemade Pearson, Deputy Governor for Operations. has petitioned the Supreme Court of Liberia in opposition to his suspension, elevating vital questions on government energy and the legality of his elimination.
Early within the 12 months, the CBL Board of Governors, proxying for the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), held its second MPC assembly of 2024 on May 15th, 2024, throughout which it assessed the macroeconomic situations of the home and international economies for the first quarter of 2024, to information the coverage selections for the following quarters in the course of the 12 months.
The financial institution’s board of governors acknowledged the resilient restoration of the worldwide financial system regardless of uneven development amongst areas and headwind challenges. Characterized by supply-chain disruptions, lingering pandemic results, the Russia-Ukraine warfare that sparked vitality and meals disaster, and a surge in inflation that triggered tight financial coverage globally, the Board was impressed with the projected development fee of three.2 % development of worldwide Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) attributed to development within the superior economies, particularly the euro space and the United States. However, the Board was involved concerning the anticipated slowdown in China which may have a spill-over impact on the Liberian financial system because of China being one of many nation’s main buying and selling companions. The Board famous the projected enchancment in Sub-Saharan Africa, as development is predicted to rise to three.8 % in 2024 and the strong forecasts for nations within the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) with all WAMZ nations are anticipated to develop past their 2023 ranges.
Additionally, the financial institution’s governors famous that international inflation continues to reasonable from a peak of 8.7 % in 2022 to six.8 % in 2023 and a projection of 5.9 % for 2024. The moderation in inflation highlights the resilience of financial coverage, primarily within the superior economies. In low-income nations, inflation remains to be excessive because of pass-through results of upper meals, gasoline, and fertilizer prices. Sub-Saharan Africa inflation was nonetheless excessive, although it’s projected to reasonable to fifteen.3 % for 2024 from 16.2 % in 2023. Hence, sustaining tight coverage charges in response to containing inflation stays the important thing coverage response for a lot of central banks. The Board famous the favorable developments in commodity costs. All of the chosen agriculture commodity costs rose within the quarter beneath evaluation one besides the spherical logs, in comparison with the final quarter in 2023; within the metallic & vitality class gold worth rose, whereas crude oil and iron ore costs declined in comparison with the final quarter in 2023.
2024 HIGH: During the 12 months beneath evaluation, the CBL concluded a productive assembly in Ganta, Nimba County, soliciting stakeholders’ views and proposals within the Bank`s new five-year strategic plan (2025-2029). During that assembly, stakeholders drawn from all 15 counties of Liberia met on October 9, 2024, and held vigorous engagements on the way forward for the Bank targeted on enhancing its mission, imaginative and prescient, and mandate for the following 5 years, in keeping with the Restated and Amended Act of the CBL (2020).
At the top of the financial institution’s quarterly assembly in October it was revealed that Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) dropped from 18.5% to 17.0%, a choice the financial institution says displays the CBL’s confidence in sustaining a steady change fee and managing inflation as Liberia approaches the ultimate quarter of the 12 months, buoyed by constructive macroeconomic indicators. In a press release launched on October 18, the MPC reviewed present financial situations and outlined its financial coverage actions for the upcoming quarter.
James Wilfred, the CBL’s Acting Deputy Executive Governor for Operations, emphasised that the worldwide financial system had demonstrated resilience regardless of challenges akin to provide chain disruptions, pandemic results, and geopolitical conflicts, notably the continued Russia-Ukraine warfare and the Israel-Hamas disaster. “Despite these headwinds, the global economy managed to avoid a recession in 2023, achieving a real GDP growth of 3.3%,” Wilfred famous, although he projected a slight decline to three.2% for 2024. He attributed this stability to tight financial insurance policies which have moderated international inflation, which is predicted to lower from 6.7% in 2023 to a projected 5.9% in 2024.
Domestically, Liberia’s financial system confirmed indicators of enchancment within the third quarter of 2024, with the nation’s Quarterly Real GDP (QRGDP) rising by 1.3%, reversing a earlier quarter’s contraction. The MPC linked this development to a moderation in client costs and elevated consumption. Inflation charges additionally confirmed indicators of easing, shifting from 7.4% within the second quarter to six.8% within the third quarter, with expectations of an additional decline to six.4% by 12 months’s finish because of improved meals costs and efficient financial coverage.
Nevertheless, Wilfred raised considerations concerning the efficiency of Liberia’s banking sector, highlighting a 1.2% enhance in loans and advances whereas indicating declines in complete property, deposits, and capital. Non-performing loans (NPLs) additionally noticed an increase by 1.79 share factors.
During the course of the 12 months, the financial institution present Management and Board of the CBL instituted applicable measures and insurance policies to take care of low confidence within the monetary sector arising from acute Liberian greenback scarcity and excessive non-performing loans (NPLs), which had threatened the well being of the monetary system.
According to the Executive Governor, the printing, minting and infusion of latest banknotes and cash within the financial system, starting 2021 eased the acute Liberian greenback shortage at business banks and strengthened confidence within the banking system, whereas the issue of NPLs stays a significant problem for the sector, regardless of effort by the CBL in collaboration with the Liberian Bankers Association (LBA) to deliver it down from 21 % in 2020 to round 16 % in 2023.
2024 LOW: The financial institution endured a prolonged interval of uncertainty within the wake of the suspension of Governor Tarlue. Tarlue had been in negotiations with the ruling Unity Party administration for a hefty retirement, demanding a reported $US1.3 million to resign, however his request was not granted. This negotiation breakdown led President Joseph N. Boakai to droop him, in line with Executive Mansion sources. Tarlue has been difficult his suspension, arguing that the President’s motion was unlawful and unconstitutional.
The suspension, efficient instantly and with out pay, was reportedly based mostly on alleged violations of a number of monetary legal guidelines, together with the CBL Act of 1999, the Revenue Code of Liberia Act of 2011, and the Public Financial Management Act of 2009.
The President went on to nominate Henry F. Saamoi because the performing Executive Governor. In August nonetheless, Governor Tarlue took his battle to the Supreme Court and the courtroom reserved ruling within the writ of prohibition case filed for the suspended governor.
The resolution of the excessive courtroom, introduced by Justice in-chambers Yusuf Kaba on Tuesday, August 6, adopted a convention relating to the writ of prohibition filed by Tarlue in opposition to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his authorities. The Prosecution group argued that the President acted inside his duties to safeguard nationwide safety.
The suspended CBL Governor contended that the President’s resolution was illegal and unconstitutional. The quick suspension, with out pay, was purportedly based on alleged breaches of a number of monetary legal guidelines, which embrace the CBL Act of 1999, the Revenue Code of Liberia Act of 2011, and the Public Financial Management Act of 2009.
In April, the CBL introduced the extension of the March 31, 2024, deadline for the foreign money change train by six weeks, as much as May 15, 2024. The Board of Governors at an emergency assembly resolved to increase the deadline for the termination of the authorized tender standing of the outdated banknotes and to proceed the change train by way of the business banks and Rural Community Finance Institutions (RCFIs).
Despite the progress, the March thirty first deadline was impacted by a number of elements, together with the difficult highway situation to counties within the Southeast and Lofa County, the General and Presidential Elections, the depth of run-off Presidential Election, and the transitional course of. The Bank was cautious about shifting money throughout the nation throughout these conditions.
The extension meant that the outdated cash, referred to as Liberian Series 1 or LS1 and Liberian Series 2 or LS2 banknotes printed earlier than 2021 nonetheless stays authorized tender till May 15, 2024, and can be utilized to purchase items and pay for companies in Liberia.
After the brand new deadline, the outdated banknotes won’t be accepted for change at any business banks and Rural Community Finance Institutions (RCFIs). The change train will proceed solely on the CBL amenities throughout the nation.
The CBL got here beneath fireplace in the course of the 12 months amid criticisms from Dr. Bonokai G. B. Gould in regards to the state of Liberia’s financial system. The CBL described a number of of Gould’s assertions as deceptive and unsupported by knowledge. The CBL’s assertion, issued in response to the remarks, seeks to set the file straight on key points raised by Dr. Gould, together with claims concerning the shortage of the Liberian greenback, flaws in foreign money circulation administration, and the alleged inadequacies of the change fee regime.
Dr. Gould, a distinguished economist, had criticized the CBL’s financial insurance policies, suggesting that “the Liberian dollar shortage and the volatility of the exchange rate stem not just from supply and demand issues but also from systemic mismanagement.” He additional implied that the shortage of a constant financial coverage framework and foreign money auctions by the Bank had exacerbated these challenges. According to Dr. Gould, “the Central Bank has failed to ensure that there is enough Liberian currency in circulation to meet economic needs, especially during critical periods like the festive season.”
The CBL refuted Dr. Gould’s declare of a Liberian greenback scarcity, insisting that there’s ample foreign money in circulation to fulfill the financial system’s wants. According to the Bank, as of October 2024, roughly LRD 28 billion was in circulation, along with important reserves maintained in its operational and vault techniques. “There is no indication of a Liberian dollar shortage in the economy, and the Bank remains committed to meeting both current and post-festive season demand,” the assertion emphasised.
During the 12 months, the CBL was additionally compelled to make clear studies of scarcity of Liberian {dollars} and mistrust within the native foreign money. The CBL categorically indicated that the change fee is strictly market-determined and that there is no such thing as a scarcity of Liberian {dollars} within the financial system. Contrary to claims that Liberia’s foreign money points stem from greater than provide and demand dynamics, the report acknowledges that overseas foreign money exchanged for Liberian {dollars} helps the worth of the home foreign money. The CBL considers this as a transparent validation of the market-driven nature of the change fee. As of October 2024, the Liberian greenback foreign money in circulation is estimated at roughly LRD 28 billion. In addition to the Liberian greenback within the operational vault, the CBL maintains greater than ample LRD within the reserves vault of the financial institution to fulfill present and submit festive market demand and guarantee seamless transactions.
GRADE: B
2025 OUTLOOK: Will former Governor Tarlue ever get his US$1 million?
GOVERNANCE COMMISSION
Chairman, Prof. Alaric Ok. Tokpa,
THE LOWDOWN: The Governance Commission was established by an Act of the Legislature in 2007 to champion the social, financial and political improvement of Liberia. The Commission carries out this mandate by way of analysis and consultations with Liberians on points affecting governance in Liberia. It publishes its analysis findings and recommends coverage and institutional reforms which might be designed to enhance public service supply, private- sector efficiency and the dwelling requirements of all Liberians.
During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, the GC expressed a dedication to pushing the implementation of the decentralization coverage amid requires a stronger political will to advance the method.
New chair, Prof. Alaric Tokpah emphasised GC’s dedication to the collective effort for the implementation of the National Development Agenda (NDA). He furthered that the Governance Commission is a key driver of the decentralization coverage, referencing the National Policy on Decentralization, the Local Government Law (LGA), and The Revenue Sharing Law (RSL) as some key contributions made by the Commission.
2024 HIGH: In a big transfer to advertise higher governance in Liberia, the GC, the Civil Service Agency (CSA), and the Liberia Institute of Public Administration (LIPA) signed a landmark settlement geared toward enhancing public sector efficiency. The signing ceremony came about on October 1, 2024, on the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism.
The settlement, referred to as a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), is the results of months of discussions and collaboration. It units the stage for public sector and civil service reforms, that are seen as essential for Liberia’s nationwide improvement. Prof. Alaric Tokpa, Acting Chair of the GC, emphasised the significance of those reforms, noting that public sector reform is each a neighborhood demand and a global concern.
A key facet of the settlement is the formation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) that may oversee the implementation of the MOU. This group will work to make sure that the reforms are carried out successfully. The MOU is designed to help the federal government’s Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) and descriptions particular roles for every social gathering. The Governance Commission will lead the method as chair, with the CSA serving as co-chair, and LIPA offering administrative help.
During the 12 months, the GC expanded its scope with the creation of a brand new mandate space titled the “Peace and Security Mandate Area” (PSMA). Announced by GC Acting Chairman Prof. Alaric Tokpa, the PSMA is devoted to enhancing coordination amongst peace actors throughout the authorities and throughout the broader Liberian society. Additionally, the PSMA will concentrate on creating greatest practices for peacebuilding, battle decision, and addressing safety points all through the nation.
Once established, the PSMA will grow to be the sixth working program space of the fee, becoming a member of the present mandate areas: Civic Engagement, National Identity and Visioning, Public Sector, Political & Legal Reforms/Decentralization, National Integrity System, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Publication.
Also, in the course of the 12 months, the GC adopted a advice from Internal Affairs Minister Francis Nyumalin, who known as for the Legislature to determine what he known as “The National Peace Commission.” Both Prof. Tokpa and Minister Nyumalin’s remarks had been in response to a proposal by Mr. Sheik S. S. Kamara, Executive Director of the Liberia Peacebuilding Office (LPBO), who urged the Legislature to create an Independent Peace Commission to bolster Liberia’s peace efforts.
2024 LOW: During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, the GC was rocked by an inside rift. FrontPage Africa reported simmer tensions as performing chairperson Alaric Tokpah ‘illegally’ sacked the manager director, Mathias F. Korpu. Korpu’s dismissal has sparked concern over the fee’s operational integrity. The transfer has reignited debates over the fee’s mandate and its adherence to established protocols.
The dismissal adopted media studies that Tokpa had been quietly threatening to sack workers he single-handedly deems non-essential on the entity. Mr. Tokpa said that the choice to terminate the companies of the manager director was deemed essential as a result of his (Matthias F. Korpu) recruitment course of violated the fee’s founding laws. Also, Mr. Tokpa has deliberate to terminate all employment and topic workers to reapply for his or her present positions, thus triggering criticisms as aggrieved workers are questioning the legality and procedural equity of the dismissal with allegations of an inside energy wrestle brewing beneath the floor.
During the 12 months the GC outlined poor governance, over politicization of the civil service, overstaffing of presidency establishments, indiscipline, corruption, impunity, intimidation, and the killing of execs as governance crises inherited by the Boakai-Koung administration.
GC Chair Tokpa believes that public sector reforms in Liberia have to be carried out with the utmost seriousness, noting that it’s no secret that the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai inherited a damaged system from the previous ruling Coalition for Democratic Change.
While addressing the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism in October, Tokpa underscored that these considerations would require system reform, including that system reform is best achieved as a collective endeavor.
GRADE: C
2025 OUTLOOK: It’s all the time indicators of hassle when inside wrangling stifles the fee tasked with implementing governance. Will the pattern from the Weah period run into the brand new 12 months?
LIBERIA EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE (LEITI)
HEAD OF SECRETARIAT, Jeffrey Yates
THE LOWDOWN: The LEITI initiative goals to strengthen governance by enhancing and selling useful resource transparency and accountability by way of correct extractive income administration; and to watch compliance of fiscal and non-fiscal obligations of concessionaires that affect the Liberian financial system. The initiative is a part of the EITI- a worldwide Standard to advertise the open and accountable administration of extractive assets. LEITI works by way of a Secretariat guided by a multi-stake holder association comprising the Government, Civil Society Organizations and Private firms to enhance the governance of the Extractive sector in Liberia.
As Liberia navigates its method by way of mounting challenges, the work of LEITI stays vital in making certain that the nation’s assets are managed transparently and responsibly.
The initiative is a worldwide customary for the nice governance of oil, gasoline and mineral assets. It seeks to deal with the important thing governance points within the extractive sectors and requires info alongside the extractive trade worth chain from the purpose of extraction, to how the income makes its method by way of the federal government, to the way it contributes to the financial system. This contains how licenses and contracts are allotted and registered, who the helpful homeowners of these operations are, what the fiscal and authorized preparations are, how a lot is produced, how a lot is paid, the place are these revenues allotted, and what’s the contribution to the financial system, together with employment.
Liberia is certainly one of 52 Countries worldwide which might be implementing the EITI Standard. Each of those nations is required to publish an annual EITI Report disclosing info on contracts and licenses, manufacturing, income assortment, income allocation, and social and financial spending.
Liberia grew to become part of the EITI Countries by an Act of the Legislature in 2009 after two years of implementing the EITI customary and has since revealed eight studies with its ninth report in progress. The Liberian Secretariat has had three Heads of Secretariat from 2007 till now. Revenues collected from sectors coated by the LEITI are tracked, used, and accounted for transparently to profit all Liberians, scale back poverty, and improve financial and social improvement.
2024 HIGH: The excessive level of the 12 months for LEITI was the discharge of its fifteenth report, which highlighted the numerous contribution of the extractive sector to Liberia’s home income. According to the report, the extractive sector accounted for 17.16 % of the federal government’s income envelope within the final fiscal 12 months, amounting to US$182.35 million.
The prime contributors to the federal government’s income throughout this era had been ArcelorMittal Liberia Limited, Bea Mountain Mining Company, and Firestone Liberia Incorporated. These firms contributed a mixed complete of US$132 million, with ArcelorMittal main the best way with $78 million.
The report additionally sheds mild on the social and environmental expenditures of extractive firms, which totaled US$34 million. Mandatory social spending accounted for US$28 million, whereas voluntary social expenditure amounted to US$5 million. Moreover, each necessary and voluntary environmental bills stood at US$1 million every.
The fifteenth report covers varied sectors, together with mining, oil and gasoline, agriculture, and forestry, offering beneficial insights into the actions and operations of firms concerned in mineral extraction, logging, and the manufacturing of rubber, oil palm, cocoa, and extra.
Key statistics from the report embrace gold manufacturing at 14,092 kg, iron ore manufacturing at 6,852,999 metric tons, diamond manufacturing at 87,732 carats, spherical logs manufacturing at 263,323 cubic meters, rubber manufacturing at 129,417 tons, and crude palm oil manufacturing at 53,940 metric tons.
The report additionally highlights the numerous contribution of the extractive sector to Liberia’s exports, which accounted for 99.23% of the overall exports of the nation in the course of the interval. Bea Mountain Mining Corporation, ArcelorMittal, and MNG Gold had been the highest contributors to Liberia’s exports, with 48%, 40%, and 9% respectively. Regarding employment, the mining, agriculture, and forestry sectors collectively employed 12,017 folks in 2022, representing 0.50% of the nation’s labor pressure.
Furthermore, 21% of those staff had been feminine, indicating a sure degree of gender inclusivity throughout the trade. The manufacturing of the fifteenth EITI Report was achieved by way of the collaboration of the LEITI Multi-Stakeholders Group (MSG), Parker & Associates LLC, and BDO-UK.
The report contains detailed info on varied points, such because the authorized framework and financial regime, extractive industries’ contribution to the financial system, manufacturing and export knowledge, income allocations, and extra.
Liberia has additionally taken a big step in direction of transparency in firm possession with the launch of its new Beneficial Ownership (BO) register. This register goals to boost accountability, home useful resource mobilization, and the prevention of economic or environmental crimes. The register was launched in September 2023 and will probably be totally out there in March 2024, the LEITI secretariat stated.
During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, the push for better transparency and accountability in Liberia’s extractive industries took a big step ahead because the Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP) and the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) hosted an train on Beneficial Ownership (BO) Transparency in Monrovia.
The train’s primary objective was to sharpen the talents of key stakeholders and addressing rising challenges round helpful possession transparency, the occasion attracted greater than 40 individuals representing 20 establishments throughout authorities, civil society, and personal firms.
The train emphasised the significance of empowering stakeholders with the information and instruments to establish and observe the true people—helpful homeowners—who in the end management or revenue from firms working inside Liberia’s extractive sector. As extractive industries akin to mining, oil, and gasoline stay central to Liberia’s financial system, making certain transparency in possession constructions is vital to combating corruption and enhancing good governance. The occasion, guided by the ideas of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), introduced individuals collectively to change concepts, share greatest practices, and focus on the mandatory steps towards attaining a strong and clear helpful possession regime in Liberia.
Jeffrey Yates, Head of Secretariat has been pushing for the necessity for Liberians to take possession of the method of helpful possession transparency. He emphasised that whereas worldwide frameworks and initiatives like EITI present a robust basis, the true success of any transparency efforts should come from inside Liberia itself. “For this process to succeed beyond the crafted frameworks and international efforts, Liberians must take ownership of the process with utmost patriotism,” Yates stated. He pressured the significance of continued engagement amongst all stakeholders to foster a nationwide tradition of transparency, one the place helpful possession disclosure turns into not only a regulatory requirement however a deeply ingrained nationwide precedence. According to Yates, sustained dialogue and collaboration will probably be important in overcoming the challenges that proceed to impede progress.
2024 LOW: Much of LEITI’s work is usually impacted by outcomes and the way the numbers reported translate into success for the extractive industries and as a part of the worldwide EITI motion, LEITI operates to trace and publish detailed details about Liberia’s pure useful resource administration, together with income streams, licensing processes, and contracts between the federal government and personal firms. However, in the course of the course of the 12 months, plenty of the success of these initiatives largely trusted how effectively the information is utilized by civil society, media, and tutorial establishments to carry the federal government and personal sector accountable. This has been hampered by lack of assets hurting LEITI’s work.
As the top of secretariat, Yates identified in the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, “EITI reporting goes beyond numbers and data. It is about making sure the people of Liberia know how their resources are being managed and ensuring that the benefits of these resources reach every Liberian.”
According to Yates, mental facilities, which embrace universities, suppose tanks, and civil society analysis establishments, have a big function to play in enhancing transparency and accountability within the extractive sector. By analyzing LEITI knowledge, these establishments can establish gaps in governance and provide coverage suggestions to enhance how pure assets are managed.
GRADE: B
2025 OUTLOOK: LEITI does plenty of good analysis in a bid to maintain observe of the extractive industries. Will assets pour within the coming 12 months?
FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY(FIA)
OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, Mohammed A. Nasser
THE LOWDOWN: The FIU, certainly one of Liberia’s worst-performing integrity establishments was established to function the central, nationwide company of Liberia answerable for the receipt, evaluation, and conduct preliminary investigations of suspicious transactions or actions related to cash laundering, related predicate offenses, terrorist financing, financing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and proceeds of crime and different transactions or actions studies decided by the FIA.
While the imaginative and prescient FIA is to construct a well-equipped Agency devoted to an efficient Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism regime in Liberia, the FIU has did not stay as much as its title amid considerations of presidency affect and large corruption over the previous years.
2024 HIGH: During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, a delegation from the FIU visited the Nigeria- Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) on a research tour, with the goal at bolstering cooperation and studying from the NFIU’s established AML/CFT practices to boost regional collaboration in West Africa in opposition to monetary crimes which might be severely detrimental to the worldwide monetary system.
The FIA delegation headed by Hon. Amos Y. Boakai, Deputy Director General of the Agency, engaged varied departments throughout the NFIU to assist strengthen worldwide cooperation and data sharing between the 2 AML/CFT regulatory establishments, which is consistent with Recommendation-2 that emphasizes collaboration for combating illicit monetary actions.
During the 12 months beneath evaluation, the FIA performed an interactive consciousness and sensitization workshop with stakeholders and professionals in the true property sector, as a part of ongoing Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) threat evaluation. The evaluation workshop was necessitated by completely different studies, findings, and proposals from Liberia’s National ML/TF Risk Assessment (NRA) and Liberia’s second spherical of Mutual Evaluation (MER-2) by nationwide and regional AML/CFT our bodies. These findings confirmed, inter alia, that the true property sector lacks AML/CFT regulators and is subsequently extraordinarily susceptible to cash laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF). The findings additional famous the absence of a authorized AML/CFT framework to manage the true property sector, casual monetary transaction, uncoordinated actual property professionals, and so forth – spotlighting Liberia’s 2019 National Risk Assessment report and second mutual analysis report (MER-2), which recognized a number of deficiencies within the nation’s actual property sector; punctuating the necessity to treatment these pitfalls with a purpose to facilitate a strong AML/CFT compliance regime in Liberia.
2024 LOW: During the 12 months in evaluation, President Boakai was compelled to droop Stanley Ford, Director General of the FIA for allegations of economic and different malpractices. The President urged Mr. Ford to submit himself to the investigation and cooperate totally to be sure that the matter is resolved expeditiously.
Despite the President’s urging, Mr. Ford was by no means arrested or charged.
The allegations in opposition to Mr. Ford centered round monetary misconduct. The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) by way of its Executive Director Anderson Miamen in the course of the 12 months urged the Boakai administration to behave in opposition to Ford who’s accused in a a couple of million United States Dollars racket, allegedly disbursed within the title of the Comptroller, together with over US$500 Thousand withdrawn on the identical day it was transferred by the Central Bank of Liberia.
GRADE: F
2025 OUTLOOK: Where is Mr. Ford? Will Case ever see the sunshine of day?
LIBERIA MARITIME AUTHORITY
COMMISSIONER, Neto Zarzar Lighe, Sr.
THE LOWDOWN: The authority has a mandate to construct a vibrant home maritime program that’s financially self-sustaining, internationally compliant and efficient in defending Liberia’ Maritime Domain. During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, LiMA formally validated and authorised the National Maritime Strategy (NMS) of Liberia for the following 5 years. The NMS, which comprises three cardinal pillars of Collaboration, Innovation and Partnerships, brings to the fore the whole-of-government strategy to making sure that Liberia totally meets its nationwide and worldwide obligations in maritime governance.
In validating and approving the National Maritime Strategy, Commissioner Lighe needs to precise his appreciation to the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Transport, the Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, the Managing Director of the National Port Authority, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority for collaborating within the course of as collaborating entities and companions within the Maritime Administration of Liberia.
During the 12 months, the general standing of the Authority was passable with many strides and achievements made within the core areas of its mandate. During the reporting interval, there have been many milestones in areas akin to contribution to the nationwide price range, the drafting and finalization of varied coverage paperwork for operational effectiveness in addition to notable achievements in making ready Liberia for the November 2024 Mandatory Member States Audit to be performed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Authority additionally made important beneficial properties in areas akin to infrastructure improvement, capability constructing and youth empowerment, productiveness of workforce and effectiveness in monetary reporting and compliance. Regarding efficient monetary reporting and compliance, the Liberia Maritime Authority continues to make sure common periodic audits of its monetary statements and system by each inside and exterior auditors to make sure accountability and transparency.
During the reporting interval, the Authority started the method of creating its Strategic Plan for the following 5 years (2025-2029). The course of, which is nearing completion, concerned stakeholder engagements, a complete situational evaluation of the working setting, the formulation of varied objectives and the event of specified targets in addition to pertinent actions to realize these targets. It can be value mentioning that the brand new strategic plan of the Liberia Maritime Authority seeks to widen the operational remit of the Authority by veering into completely different rising and conventional maritime enterprise areas.
On the general, the standing of the Liberia Maritime Authority is steady with much more constructive beneficial properties anticipated within the coming years. More efforts and methods are anticipated to be instituted, and it’s anticipated that many milestones will probably be made in lots of areas of the sector.
2024 HIGH: During the 12 months, the Authority embarked upon a number of reforms by way of the drafting of a number of insurance policies that both have been authorised or pending approval by the newly appointed Board of Directors. With the assistance of its newly shaped Risk Management and Quality Assurance Division, the Authority now has a draft Fraud Policy and a Draft Risk Management Policy which might be at present awaiting approval from the Board of Directors. These two insurance policies will assist information the interior controls of the Authority thereby strengthening its monetary operations by making certain full compliance with public monetary legal guidelines and worldwide accounting requirements. Additionally, the Authority has additionally revised its finance and accounting handbook that now inculcates a number of audit suggestions to make sure transparency and accountability.
In a bid to finalize a correct inside management over its fastened property, the Authority has applied the coding of all its property and is at present finalizing its fastened property register to fulfill worldwide requirements thereby making certain full implementation of a earlier audit advice. The Authority has been rated by a modern report from the General Auditing Commission (GAC) as one of many highest implementers of audit suggestions. The Authority views audit suggestions implementation as a foundation for good governance and technique of instituting correct inside controls.
During the interval beneath evaluation, Liberia achieved reasonable enhance within the variety of ships calling at Liberian ports. A complete of 325 vessels, totaling 5,785,892 Gross Tons, known as on the ports in Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville and Harper. Furthermore, 99 Port State Control (PSC) inspections had been carried out with zero detention, 3 inspections with 5 deficiencies, and 54 reported to the Abuja MoU.
The Authority for the interval beneath evaluation has efficiently accomplished the first and third Quarter International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) inspections/audits on the Freeport of Monrovia and its concessions, together with the leeward ports by our devoted group of inspectors/auditors. In collaboration with the US Coast Guard, the Authority, because the Designated Authority of ISPS implementation in Liberia, performed an entire tour of Monrovia Sea Port to evaluate Liberia’s degree of compliance at that facility.
From November 25, 2024, to December 2, 2024, the International Maritime Organization audited Liberia maritime administration as a part of the IMO member states audit scheme (IMSAS). The audit targeted on Liberia’s compliance with its port and coastal state obligations beneath varied worldwide maritime conventions and treaties. Findings and observations from the audit have been introduced to the Authority. The Authority is now poised to start creating and implementing corrective actions to rectify the deficiencies reported within the audit.
During the 12 months, the authority Management launched into setting up an annex subsequent to the Global Corporate Headquarters in Congo Town. During the interval beneath evaluation, the Authority accomplished the bidding course of for the design of the Annex and is predicted to have the plan of the constructing accomplished by the top of 2024. The precise bidding course of for the development of the Annex will start by the top of 2024 upon which era the authority could have a invoice of amount to start the bidding course of to safe a contractor for the undertaking.
In mid-2024, the Liberia Maritime Training Institute (LMTI) graduated a batch of 24 cadets. The cadets obtained Associate of Arts Degrees in Maritime Studies. Some of them have been positioned on vessels for attainment of sea time whereas others are within the make use of of different companies just like the National Port Authority, the Liberia Electricity Corporation and so forth.
In addition, the Authority commenced the development of a dormitory on the campus of the Regional Maritime University to host Liberian college students learning at that establishment. The Authority plans to extend the variety of Liberian college students on the Regional Maritime University through the years to come back. The Authority additionally awarded totally funded scholarships to twenty younger Liberians to check on the Regional Maritime University in Ghana over the interval beneath evaluation.
The Authority was assessed the quantity of 14 million United States Dollars as Maritime Contribution to the National Budget. By November 30, the Authority, by way of the International Registry, had contributed the quantity of Twelve Million Nine Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand United States Dollars (US$12,975,000.00) as Maritime Contribution to the GoL FY2024 Budget. This quantity surpasses all contributions to the consolidated account within the final 4 (4) years and culminates into 93 % of the overall assessed quantity in 2024. From all indications, the Authority is poised to fulfill up with its income goal in 2024.
2024 LOW: During the 12 months beneath evaluation, dozens of oil tankers utilized by Russia stopped crusing beneath the Liberian and Marshall Islands flags after the United States ramped up sanctions enforcement on ships linked to these registries, in line with delivery knowledge and interviews with trade and authorities officers. The shift displays the shut relationship between the U.S. and the flag administration firms of Liberia and the Marshall Islands, that are headquartered not of their house nations, however in Virginia, simply miles from Washington D.C. and throughout the jurisdiction of U.S. sanctions enforcement.
The heavy previous use of these flags additionally represents a doubtlessly lasting vulnerability for Russia’s oil fleet, whose tankers will stay responsible for sanctions violations even after they’ve switched to a brand new flag outdoors of U.S. attain, in line with vitality and sanctions specialists.
In latest years, one of many main considerations relating to maritime safety in Liberia has been piracy. According to the International Maritime Bureau, piracy incidents in West Africa have elevated in recent times, with Nigeria and neighboring nations being essentially the most affected. While Liberia has not skilled important piracy incidents, the nation remains to be susceptible to assaults because of its proximity to high-risk areas. Nevertheless, the nation has taken steps to enhance its maritime safety.
Another problem to Liberia’s maritime safety is unlawful, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This follow, which entails fishing vessels working with out authorization or outdoors of established rules, can have important impacts on marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of native communities. Liberia has made efforts to fight IUU fishing, together with the adoption of the Liberian National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing.
GRADE: A-
2025 OUTLOOK: One of the most important contributors to the Liberian financial system
LIBERIA REVENUE AUTHORITY
COMMISSIONER GENERAL, Dorbor Jallah
THE LOWDOWN: The LRA is a Semi-autonomous organ of the Executive Branch of the Government. Formerly Department of Revenue beneath the previous Ministry of Finance, which included the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs and Excise, as outlined in Chapter 21 of the Executive Law of 1972, the LRA is remitted to manage and implement income legal guidelines in accordance to the Liberia Revenue Code (and different associated legal guidelines beneath which it’s assigned duty) for the aim of assessing, amassing, auditing, and accounting for all nationwide revenues and to facilitate reliable worldwide commerce and customs border administration enforcement.
During the 12 months beneath evaluation, incoming Director General Jallah spoke of his dedication to curbing illicit practices inside customs operations, together with false declarations and under-reporting, to develop the nation’s income. Commissioner General (CG) Jallah highlighted the important function customs brokers must play within the nation’s financial panorama, whereas cautioning in opposition to unethical practices akin to advising shoppers to falsify or understate items and supplies.
Commissioner General Jallah held key talks with a delegation from the European Union (EU) and the newly appointed Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the LRA Headquarters in discussions centered on sustaining the LRA’s latest achievements in income assortment and exploring new methods to extend home income, supporting Liberia’s financial development.
The delegation emphasised the LRA’s pivotal function in Liberia’s financial system and highlighted the assembly’s goal of figuring out areas the place the EU may help the Authority in enhancing its capability to additional drive income development.
This 12 months marked the LRA’s tenth anniversary, commemorating a decade of existence for the income authority. Ten years in the past, the LRA commenced its operations with a mission to boost tax assortment, enhance effectivity, and promote transparency. Over the previous decade, the authority has efficiently elevated home income from an annual assortment of US$400 million to just about US$800 million, amassing a complete income of at the very least US$4.3 billion. This substantial development underscores the dedication and compliance of accountable taxpayers throughout the nation.
2024 HIGH: The LRA reported a large haul in taxes in the course of the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation. As of September 30, 2024, the LRA has efficiently collected US$513.8 million or 74% of the overall home income envelope of US$694.4 million, representing a 12% enhance in home income in comparison with final 12 months. The collected quantity is US$54.3 million greater than the year-to-date income goal.
The 2024 nationwide price range goal is US$738.86 million, with US$696.4 million (pre-recast) anticipated from home tax assortment and US$42.4 million projected from exterior help.
The LRA reported no revenues from exterior sources, which means that every one revenues collected by the LRA thus far has been generated domestically by compliant taxpayers, highlighting the essential reliance on home income mobilization to realize the budgetary objectives, and the LRA Commissioner General, James Dorbor Jallah, proudly acknowledges the contributions of Liberia’s taxpayers.
With $513.8 million already collected in opposition to the pre-recast annual home income goal of $696.4 million, the LRA stays on track to fulfill its 2024 income objective. This important milestone displays the regular progress in home income assortment beneath the succesful management of Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah, whose strategic imaginative and prescient has positioned the LRA as a key participant in driving nationwide development by way of improved income mobilization. Since March 2024, when CG Jallah took over, the LRA has constantly surpassed its month-to-month income collections in comparison with the identical interval in 2023 and is dedicated to reaching the one billion mark within the coming years.
The tax haul drew excessive reward from a visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, headed of the IMF delegation, Mr. Daehaeng Kim, who expressed admiration for the LRA’s achievements, significantly noting the distinctive income efficiency on the shut of October 2024, which surpassed the projected income goal by 1%. The LRA exceeded its year-to-date goal of US$568.2 million, amassing a powerful US$572.6 million, marking the very best degree of home income mobilized by the LRA at this level within the 12 months since its inception a decade in the past.
Mr. Kim highlighted the resilience and dedication demonstrated by Commissioner General Jallah and his group on the LRA regardless of quite a few challenges, acknowledging their vital function in Liberia’s improvement. He stated it was encouraging to see Commissioner General Jallah’s management and the LRA’s onerous work yielding such outstanding progress. “Liberia’s economic stability depends on effective revenue mobilization, and the IMF is pleased to see this progress,” Kim stated, earlier than asking for challenges the LRA is experiencing.
During the 12 months, the LRA announce a big milestone in its digital transformation journey with the receipt of fifty Starlink satellite tv for pc terminals, with funding from the International Development Association (IDA) and the Government of Sweden, by way of the Public Financial Management Reform and Institutional Strengthening Project (PFMRISP). The gear, valued at roughly US$162,000 (or 149,400 Euros), marks a big leap ahead in enhancing web entry for Tax Business Offices (TBOs) and Customs Business Offices (CBOs) throughout Liberia, together with rural areas beforehand challenged by restricted web connectivity. The introduction of Starlink, a cutting-edge satellite tv for pc web service supplier, will improve web connectivity at LRA places of work nationwide. This initiative is essential to the LRA’s strategic plan of leveraging digital expertise to boost income assortment, offering real-time entry to efficiency knowledge in rural areas, and bolstering transparency, accountability, and reporting processes.
In April, the LRA launched into a withholding audit of the National Road Fund (NRF) for the interval spanning January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023. The audit engagement assembly underscored the importance of adhering to tax rules and sustaining accountability within the administration of NRF’s monetary data.
2024 LOW: A blip for the LRA got here in May when the authority was compelled to disclaim media studies that it bought a automobile value one-hundred-fifty US Dollars for the Ministry of Commerce.
While confirming that it authorised a request by the Commerce Ministry in early May 2024, for ninety-six thousand US Dollars as help for the acquisition of autos, the LRA defined that the cash was anticipated to come back from its Customs Capacity Building Fund beneath the Destination Inspectorate (DI) contract held with MEDTECH Scientific Limited.
The autos, the LRA stated are supposed for trade-related actions in collaboration with customs and clarified that the autos’ specs and deployment are throughout the Commerce Ministry and never decided by the LRA.
Another blip got here by the use of the Customs Commissioner Saah Saamoi, showing to be in blatant violation of a Supreme Court order, successfully diverting to an unlawful firm enormous quantities of income that ought to in any other case be payable to the Liberian authorities and different events beneath an current Destination Inspection Agreement. The order, issued by the Supreme Court of Liberia on August 26, 2024, mandates the reinstatement of Medtec Scientific Liberia Limited beneath an current Destination Inspection (DI) Agreement, successfully halting the operations of MTS Inspection Service Ltd., the corporate that had been superimposed because the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) beneath the identical settlement.
According to the DI Agreement, signed in 2021 by the Government of Liberia and Medtec Scientific Limited, an organization registered in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Medtec Scientific Limited established a subsidiary registered in Liberia, named “Medtec Scientific Liberia Limited”, for the implementation of the settlement. MTS Inspection Service will not be acknowledged beneath the DI Agreement.
The DI Agreement sought to exchange BIVAC, the pre-shipment inspection supplier after it closed operations in Liberia. The administration of President George M. Weah, on the time, opted to exchange pre-shipment inspection — inspection of all items on the port of embarkment — with Destination Inspection, which might happen upon arrival of shipments in Liberia. Destination Inspection, for the needs of the settlement, refers to “the intrusive and non-intrusive examination of goods imported to or exported from Liberia for the purpose of ensuring the correctness of quantity of goods declared to Customs; and the accuracy of goods valuation, HS classification, origin, and the quality of such goods as established by the Government of Liberia using risk management techniques.”
GRADE: B-
2025 OUTLOOK: With African Development Bank projecting draw back dangers in 2025 from Russia’s persevering with invasion of Ukraine, can home taxes proceed to maintain the financial system afloat?
NATIONAL FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE AUTHORITY
DIRECTOR GENERAL, Emma Metieh Glassco
THE LOWDOWN: NaFAA was created by an Act of National Legislation on October 9, 2017. It features as a fully-fledged autonomous physique pursuant to the Public Authorities Law of the Republic of Liberia. NaFAA has its roots within the erstwhile Bureau of National Fisheries, which operated as a unit throughout the division of Technical companies of the Ministry of Agriculture from 1956 to 2017.
Since its creation, NaFAA, previously the Bureau of National Fisheries, has carried out its statutory mandate to make sure that the sector is viable in implementing its obligations and income era. Toward this goal, in 2010 the BNF by way of the MOA finalized the brand new Fisheries Regulations to make sure that the sector is effectively managed and controlled.
Today, NaFAA continues to undertake varied actions to enhance the administration and regulation of fisheries in Liberia. According to the United States Aid for International Development, Fisheries in Liberia contribute about 10% to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the sector offers full- or part-time employment for 37,000 folks. Small-scale fisheries present employment for 33,000 folks, 60% of whom are girls.
A 2009 evaluation discovered that coastal fishing communities had been extremely susceptible to poverty however emphasised that the fisheries sector has “large potential to contribute to socio- economic development” if limitations akin to weak institutional capability, an unfavorable political setting, conflicts with industrial fishing and migrant fishers, and lack of fisheries infrastructure are successfully addressed. Recent analysis means that Liberian fisheries can considerably contribute to sustainably offering the nation’s wants for animal protein if key points associated to native capability, governance, and infrastructure are addressed.
Over the interval of the 12 months beneath evaluation, DG Glassco laid emphasis on the importance of small-skills fisheries within the Liberian Fisheries sector describing them because the heartbeat of the fishing communities throughout the Country. In September, whereas addressing the opening session of a three-day fisheries workshop centered on the event of small-scale fisheries coaching curriculum for future leaders, organized by the University of Liberia Fisheries and Aquaculture Department and the Liberian Fisheries Authority, NaFAA in collaboration with Duke University, FAO, and Conservation International (CI), Madam pressured that small-scale fisheries present livelihoods for thousands and thousands of individuals, together with a number of the most susceptible populations -women, youth and Indigenous fishers.
Moreover, the Liberian Fisheries Authority Director General noticed that small-skills fisheries have through the years remained within the shadows, stating that they’ve been underappreciated, under-documented, and under-supported, noting that “it is time we change this narrative”. Madam Glassco stated by adopting the illumining hidden harvest strategy, the Government commits to uncovering the total scope of small-scale fisheries to really perceive their significance, challenges, and potential. She famous this strategy will allow the Fisheries Authority to make extra knowledgeable selections, to craft insurance policies that handle what she termed as the true wants of fishers, and to strengthen the resilience of the sector.
2024 HIGH: In January, NaFAA launched the Moroccan Research Vessel to conduct a fish inventory evaluation in order to determine the business viability of Liberia’s Fisheries Resources.
The outcomes confirmed that Liberia’s Fisheries is in a pristine situation with enormous potential which is able to end in elevated income contribution in addition to financial development. In March, DG Glassco signed an MoU with the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO)-United Nations to conduct a regional fish inventory evaluation survey. In June 27, NaFAA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Regional Maritime University in Accra, Ghana in an effort to breach the information gaps throughout the fisheries sector; which goals at designing particular applications for capability constructing and abilities enchancment to fulfill the trade wants. As a part of the train, RMU will prepare seafarers and fishermen with fashionable abilities thereby upgrading their skilled statuses which prepares them to fulfill with up to date trade. NaFAA was capable of safe US$20 million OPEC Funds for International Development (OFID).
The built-in Fisheries Sector Strengthening Project was efficient on July 4,2024. In November, NaFAA signed a Technical Cooperation MoU with Egypt specializing in Aquaculture Development, Monitoring Control and Surveillance (selling good fisheries governance) in addition to Trade facilitation with an goal of enhancing non-public sector participation. Toward the top of the 12 months, Liberia assumed chairmanship of the Sub-regional Fisheries Body, Fisheries Commission for Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC). This will subsequently result in the adoption of the Monrovia Declaration in honor of the host nation by regional Ministers/ Member states. The decision focuses on harmonizing insurance policies akin to closed Fisheries season and joint regional patrols in an effort to advertise good fisheries governance, scale back unlawful fishing operations within the Gulf of Guinea and stop piracy at Sea.
2024 LOW: The 12 months beneath evaluation has been a reasonably turbulent one for DG Glassco. Haunted by her affiliation with the earlier authorities, the brand new Unity Party authorities has been on her heels and aiming to get her out. Since the inception of the brand new regime there have been a few protests by employees which had been believed to be politically motivated as there have been no situations of protests beneath the final six years of the Weah- led regime.
This affected the general efficiency of the Institution. During the 12 months, NaFAA additionally discovered itself within the sizzling seat when it was taken to courtroom by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA). The LRA initiated authorized proceedings in opposition to the Fisheries physique for allegedly failing to remit important budgetary contributions and revenue taxes deducted from workers’ wages. Under the present fiscal 12 months, NaFAA is obligated to contribute a complete of US$1,569,888 to the 2024 National Budget, which incorporates US$69,888 in deducted revenue taxes that, beneath Liberian legislation, have to be transferred to the federal government. Despite a number of formal communications and telephone calls from the LRA and the Ministry of Justice, the Fisheries Authority reportedly ignored these reminders, main the LRA to escalate the matter to the Tax Court on the Temple of Justice.
NaFAA stands accused of withholding the US$69,888 in revenue taxes, a difficulty that has grow to be a big level of competition. NaFAA has confirmed that authorized motion has been taken in opposition to it and said that discussions with the LRA are at present in progress. This authorized tussle comes at a time when the authority’s contribution to the nationwide income has been beneath scrutiny, particularly for the reason that departure of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) authorities led by President George Weah.
During Weah’s administration, it was anticipated that NaFAA would contribute 50% of its price range envelope yearly to help the federal government’s improvement objectives. However, it has come to mild that beneath the management of Madam Emma Metieh Glassco, NaFAA has not made any contributions for the 2024 price range 12 months. This failure has considerably hampered the federal government’s means to fund its initiatives.
GRADE: B
2025 OUTLOOK: After bringing an entity left for useless to prominence, will DG Glassco survive one other spherical of onslaught within the new 12 months?
NATIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY
MANAGING DIRECTOR, Edmund Forh
THE LOWDOWN: The NTA is answerable for passenger transport companies all through Liberia. Over the previous few years, nonetheless, the authority has been embroiled in large turmoil, corruption and a wave of controversy. When the brand new administration headed by Edmund Forh took over early within the 12 months, there was a lot discuss concerning the ghosts its predecessors left behind. In truth, Anthony Benedacious Roberts, a former Financial Comptroller on the NTA made a plea to the brand new administration group to implement the General Auditing Commission’s audit suggestions and make people to account for his or her stewardship for the interval of the audit, in an effort to sort out the battle in opposition to corruption.
The NTA, established in 2009, is answerable for offering reasonably priced, handy, and dependable mass transit companies to the folks of Liberia. Initially referred to as the Monrovia Transit Authority (MTA), it was shaped in 1977 as a division of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) to cater to the transportation wants of Monrovia residents.
During the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2015, the NTA obtained 20 buses as a present from the Turkish authorities. However, the present administration claims that they inherited solely 15 operational buses from the earlier authorities.
Prior to his ascendance to the presidency, the present President Boakai was vital of the entity, laying emphasis on the restructuring and revamping of the NTA because of a number of allegations of corruption and protestation staged by workers over the poor dealing with of the nation’s solely public transport service. The former Managing Director Herbie T. McCauley confronted quite a few allegations of corruption over his dealing with of the NTA.
During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, the NTA made plenty of declarations however only a few noticed the sunshine of day. In a bid to revive public confidence and enhance service supply, the brand new administration dedicated itself to expediting the restore course of and addressing the difficulty of deserted and damaged buses from earlier years. The administration additionally highlighted the significance of those measures, noting that they’re vital to addressing the numerous transportation challenges confronted by many Liberians, a pledge that it continues to wrestle with regardless of its good intentions. A Senate listening to in the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation spotlighted considerations over the authority’s dealing with of funds, together with a US$2.1 million allocation from the nationwide price range, and the shortage of transparency in its contracts and procurement processes.
2024 HIGH: During the 12 months beneath evaluation, Managing Director Forh introduced that 11 of the 26 out-of-service NTA buses had been repaired and able to resume operations throughout Montserrado and three different counties. However, the authority has been unable to fulfill the calls for of scores of Liberians trying to get from Point A to Point B. Much of the blame for the NTA’s lapses have been thrown the best way of Forh’s predecessor.
2024 LOW: The NTA has been unable to satisfy plenty of its guarantees apart from the buy of 30,000 gallons and the recalibration of the storage tank. A report by the Institute of Research and Democratic Development (IREDD) revealed in the course of the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation that solely two different guarantees made by the NTA are nonetheless in progress. The authority is but to buy assorted spare components for extra buses, and but to safe licensed necessities of the Public Procurement Concessions Commission(PPCC) for contract settlement signed and components pending spot inspections in India for brand spanking new buses. The IREDD group additionally recorded that the promise to assemble a company headquarters was overly bold and unattainable.
The NTA seems to be struggling to even keep afloat with plenty of buses nonetheless out of service for an prolonged interval. Despite the numerous variety of buses in recent times, the supply of those autos for offering reasonably priced transportation companies to the Liberian folks stays scarce.
The NTA got here beneath fireplace in the course of the 12 months when it struggled to elucidate a controversial association that led to the arrival of some buses from Ghana. Aayalolo is a bus fast transit system inaugurated on November 25, 2016, in Ghana and operates within the Ghanaian capital, Accra. President Boakai dispatched a group of prime authorities officers to examine the 2 buses on the Executive Mansion.
Ambassador-at-Large Madam Cooper asserted that the bus initiative comes at a time when the Liberia National Transit Authority (NTA) is going through extreme bus shortages, affecting public transport companies and making it tough for University of Liberia college students to commute to and from college.
During the 12 months, the NTA MD was entangled in studies that he was tied to the distribution of petroleum merchandise (gasoline token) to sure people throughout the entity in a flagrant violation of the NTA worker handbook. Section 8.6 of the NTA worker’s handbook states: “All line managers are entitled to monthly gasoline and scratch cards with the description of quantity by the managing director.”
Mr. Forh, in response to the corruption allegations, admitted to distributing gasoline however justified his motion by saying: “I didn’t meet the other managers taking gasoline, so, I will not give them gasoline.” He advised FrontPageAfrica that he didn’t meet the opposite managers on the entity taking gasoline so he won’t give it to them although the NTA workers handbook spelled out clearly that every one managers are entitled.
GRADE: F
2025 OUTLOOK: Will the transport authority left for useless ever be resuscitated?
LIBERIA WATER AND SEWER CORPORATION:
MANAGING DIRECTOR, Mohammed Ali
THE LOWDOWN: The LWSC was created by an Act to amend the Public Utilities Law in 1973. The Corporation is empowered to assemble, set up, set up, function, handle and provide to all components of Liberia, secure consuming water and carry out all sewerage companies, in addition to to keep up such water and sewerage amenities The Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation was created by an Act to amend the Public Utilities Law in 1973. The Corporation is empowered to assemble, set up, set up, function, handle, and provide to all components of Liberia, safely and carry out all sewerage companies, in addition to to keep up such water and sewerage amenities.
Access to water in Liberia is a headache for scores of Liberians. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF), lower than 10 % of Liberians have entry to securely managed consuming water and sanitation companies. Securing entry to secure water and ample sanitation for all would go a great distance in lowering an infection, illness and demise. However, Liberia’s excessive charges of diarrheal illnesses and childhood malnutrition, in addition to frequent outbreaks of cholera, present how younger youngsters endure after they don’t have entry to the fundamentals of life.
Liberia is among the sub-Saharan African nations with the bottom protection of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) companies. According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program, as of 2020, 75.3% of the inhabitants have entry to at the very least fundamental consuming water companies (85.5% city vs 64.1% rural), up virtually 2% from 2017. For sanitation companies, as of 2020, solely 18.2% of the inhabitants have entry to at the very least fundamental sanitation companies (29.0% city vs 6.4% rural). Overall, an estimated 37% of the inhabitants nonetheless practices open defecation.
Taking over the entity in March, incoming MD Mo Ali advised his staffers of a want to realize a holistic transformation on the Public Corporation, enchancment within the service supply and the cost of salaries. Ali famous that his administration will cease at nothing however making certain that every one sides, together with the infrastructure and human capacities of the Corporation expertise main adjustments.
Ali was fast to acknowledge the lapses he was inheriting on the entity. “I know things are currently not perfect at the Corporation but we all must desire to change the present conditions here”; Ali famous.
2024 HIGH: When Ali took over,the entity reported that there was irregular provide of water in the course of the 12 months and clients had water provide every so often. One of his first priorities was to regularize the water provide to all of LWSC’s pipe community in Monrovia and Paynesville. “We succeeded in doing that in the first month of taking over,” he says.
A World Bank supported undertaking helps the LWSC lengthen water provide to offer entry to folks in Monrovia: The undertaking supported rehabilitation and enlargement of the Monrovia water distribution community. A 7.7 km specific pipe laying work and development of a 1 million Gallon Paynesville floor reservoir have been accomplished and transferred to LWSC.
The undertaking offers new connections to 69,455 folks and enhanced companies to 62,885 folks. Since March 2024, town reservoir commenced operation after leakages had been repaired; operation on the white plain water therapy plant (WPTP) has improved considerably, pumping for 12 hours in a day constantly; LWSC signed a contract for provide of chemical substances and agreed with Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) for a scheduled provide of energy to the plant; and put in a standby generator on the plant. As a results of these enhancements, LWSC has resumed supplying water to folks in central Monrovia who had been disconnected from the community for greater than ten years.
Similarly, the LWSC is planning to offer water provide to the extremely congested and underserved Westpoint space inhabitants after greater than 10 years of disconnection. It additionally allowed LWSC to enhance its service to clients downstream of the newly constructed floor reservoir at Paynesville. Improving LWSC’s capability and operational effectivity: Support is supplied to boost LWSC’s income era and administration capability by way of upgrading the present system and by offering new modules to the client administration and billing.
As a consequence, the client knowledge is digitized, cell billing and cost techniques are launched in coordination with native Banks, the billing and buyer survey and suggestions module are built-in. It was reported that the monetary administration software (fast ebook) has not but been totally built-in with the utility grasp software. LWSC has began using the utility grasp software program successfully as a planning and monitoring device to enhance its billing and assortment effectivity. It is working to finish the mixing and totally institutionalize the system with the short ebook monetary administration software.
During the 12 months, the LWSC in collaboration with the Liberia National Police (LNP), uncovered an organized water theft operation involving a number of water vans. On the night time of Friday, October 11, 2024, LNP patrol officers found people believed to be water truck operators discreetly filling their tankers with LWSC water. The unlawful operation came about behind the VAMOMA House, positioned alongside the Airfield New Road in Sinkor. The suspects strategically parked their vans close to LWSC pipelines and used turbines and water pumps beneath the duvet of darkness to extract handled water. It is believed that the people deliberately broken the pipeline to achieve unauthorized entry to an unmetered provide of water, which was getting used for business functions. When LNP officers arrived on the scene, the suspects fled, abandoning their tankers, turbines, and pumping gear. The police impounded the autos and confiscated the gear, which is now being held as proof within the ongoing investigation.
2024 LOW: The Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, LWSC has requested the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, LACC, to launch a swift and thorough investigation into the alleged bribery scandal on the House of Representatives supposedly for the elimination of House speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa. LWSC’s request to the LACC which was contained in an official communication is in response to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission’s Press Statement, dated October 21, 2024, which indicated that the LACC has been “made conscious of sources of funding within the complete quantity of U$750,00.00 (seven hundred fifty thousand u.s. {dollars}) which was allegedly made out there to lawmakers by way of the accounts of the Ministry of Transport and the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, LWSC respectively.
But within the LWSC’s official response letter beneath the signature of its performing managing director, Hon. T. Wilson Gaye, dated October 21,2024, and addressed to LIberia H”Alexandra Zoe, Executive chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, LACC, LWSC stated, it considers this allegation as grave, and as such, realizing its magnitude and potential affect on the fame of the company, “we respectfully request the LACC to conduct a direct and thorough investigation into the matter’.
“To uphold the integrity of the Corporation and further demonstrate our commitment to transparency and accountability, we herewith provide bank statements of various accounts of the corporation for review by the LACC. We also wish to grant full access to the LACC in relation to all bank accounts of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation for review”; performing managing director Gaye furthered in his communication. The administration reiterates its ignorance of the allegation and thereby stays hopeful of a immediate and neutral investigation by the LACC which final result will in the end exonerate the LWSC.
The administration additionally despatched related communication to His Excellency President Joseph N. Boakai, as effectively. “We thank you for your cooperation and look forward to your swift investigation of the matter,” the LWSC added by way of its Acting Managing Director T. Wilson Gaye.
GRADE: B-
2025 OUTLOOK: Will MD Ali the politician take away himself from politics – and the legislative saga – and concentrate on sustaining a robust provide of water to thousands and thousands throughout the nation within the new 12 months?
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT CONCESSIONS COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Bodger Scott Johnson
THE LOWDOWN: The PPCC was established to manage all types of public procurement and concessions, present for institutional constructions for public procurement and concessions and prescribe strategies and procedures for public procurement and concessions. The fee is established as a physique company and shall have the oversight duty for all public procurement and concessions in accordance with this Act. The Commission is answerable for, amongst different issues, creating guidelines, directions, rules and associated documentation on public procurement and concessions. This applies to the granting of concessions of no matter kind in all sectors together with, however not restricted to: (a) mineral exploration and mining; (b) fishing; (c) forestry; (c) water and different utilities; (d) agriculture concessions together with plantations; and (e) oil exploration and extraction.
When he took over the place final 12 months, Executive Director Bodger Scott Johnson pledged his unflinching dedication to make sure the PPCC turns into one of the best integrity establishment in Liberia in his discharge of obligation as head of the PPCC for the following 4 years. “Under my management, my group and I right here on the PPCC will make sure that this fee turns into one of the best integrity establishment in Liberia making certain compliance, monitoring, ample and transparency in direction of reviewing procurement and concession paperwork, mitigating and stopping corruption within the procurement processes right here on the PPCC,’ he stated.
To the opposite, Johnson and his employees arms seem to have been tied by the ruling Unity Party authorities as a number of contracts have slipped beneath the radar with out strong scrutiny of the as soon as highly effective entity. Thus, the PPCC has fallen quick on various events as its goal to make sure the financial and environment friendly use of public funds in public procurement has been removed from truthful, clear, and non-discriminatory.
2024 HIGH: During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, the PPCC performed a collection of coaching and consciousness actions to orient newly appointed officers with the constructions, in addition to the processes and procedures wanted to be following the general public procurement legal guidelines of Liberia. It has been fantastic, although at instances tedious, working with over 144 entities in authorities to make sure they adjust to their duty in submitting quarterly studies, procurement plans in addition to different statutory requests to the Commission’s prior approvals. During 2024, the Commission achieved two main milestones; the digital authorities procurement has gone stay with six (6) piloted entities; whereas the revised PPC Act has been reviewed and up to date and forwarded to the Office of the President. Over 500 public procurement practitioners and personal sector customers have been educated or enrolled on the brand new eProcurement platform and steady coaching remains to be being organized for newly registered companies wishing to make the most of the web web site. We are hopeful that the following 12 months will replicate extra constructive development in compliance whilst we anticipate the enrollment of extra 50 new public procuring entities from the outdated offline system to the extra aggressive, clear and accountable on-line one.
The Revision of the PPC Act The 2010 PPC Act has undergone a complete evaluation and revision, culminating in a draft with the next key provisions: a) Mandatory Use of the e-GP System: The new Act mandates the utilization of the e-GP system throughout all public procurement our bodies, making certain streamlined operations and transparency. b) Public Private Partnership (PPP) Provisions: New pointers for PPPs have been included to facilitate collaboration with non-public entities for public initiatives. c) Gender-Inclusive Procurement Policies: Gender issues have been included to advertise equitable entry and alternative for girls in public procurement. d) Updated Concessions Framework: The concessions framework has been refined to boost truthful competitors and integrity in concessions. This revised Act has been submitted to the President’s Office for evaluation and will probably be forwarded to the National Legislature for approval, representing a forward-looking step within the modernization of procurement laws.
The entity additionally commenced the refurbishment of its workplace amenities to help the operational wants caused by the e-GP System. The up to date facility will function: ü State-of-the-Art eProcurement Workstation: This space is designed to facilitate the processing of e-GP transactions successfully. 4 ü Training Hall with 100-Person Capacity: Aimed at lowering rental prices and addressing the necessity for coaching area, this corridor will function a venue for workshops and coaching important for a seamless transition to digital procurement. Website Upgrade In 2024, the PPCC web site obtained a significant overhaul to boost performance and person expertise. The up to date web site now offers: – Improved Structure and Aesthetic: The skilled redesign has improved the usability and visible enchantment of the web site. – Centralized Information Repository: It serves as a one-stop location for accessing info on contract awards, expressions of curiosity (EOIs), and different authorities procurement actions.
With the establishing of Public Access to Procurement Data, customers can conveniently view procurement knowledge and updates, selling transparency and public engagement.
The PPCC additionally introduced a shift from the pilot section of the e-GP migration to the inclusion of fifty extra MACs, compliance to procurement planning and reporting is predicted to enhance as it will grow to be necessary for all procuring entities to conduct all of their actions on the brand new on-line platform previous to the top of December 31, 2026, besides in prior authorised circumstances with logical justification. Summary Financial Report
During the 12 months beneath evaluation, the Commission obtained an appropriation of US$1, 519,421.24. Budgeted compensation to workers stood at US$1,019,421.24 whereas quantity budgeted for Goods & Services in 2024 was US$500,000.00 However, throughout fiscal Year 2024, the Commission so far obtained US$992,083.60. Personnel value has complete US$742,916.93 or 75% as of October ending, whereas items and companies amounted to US$249,166.67 or 25%. Total variance of price range to precise for the interval January to October 2024 confirmed a constructive variance of US$27,082.53 or represents spending in estimated personnel value in addition to items and companies in the course of the interval beneath evaluation. The complete obtained for Goods and Services has been US$249,166.67 for the interval beneath evaluation whereas the steadiness in appropriation is US$250,833.33 at present being processed at MFDP. Despite the quite a few challenges in fiscal Year 2024, the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission stays dedicated to realize its core mandate as a regulator of public procurement and concessions in Liberia.
2024 LOW: Loads of illegal transactions came about in the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation making the as soon as highly effective procurement entity unable to do its job correctly. For instance, in February Bronwyn Barnes, the President and CEO of US Company High Power Exploration Inc (“HPX”), introduced the signing of a letter of intent with the Government of Liberia and Robert Gumede of Guma Africa Group Ltd. The objective of the settlement is to provoke negotiations for the possession, design, financing, improvement, and operation of the Liberty Corridor connecting Guinea and Liberia.
In May, Madam Mamaka Bility, the Minister of State Without Portfolio, introduced the procurement of 285 earth-moving gear for infrastructure functions. It was reported that the 285 machines had been supplied as signature charges that Robert Gumede of Guma Group agreed to pay for the exploration of the Wologizi Mountain in Lofa County. During the 12 months beneath evaluation, the Yellow Machines transaction raised eyebrows about transparency and adherence to the rule of legislation. The Bility transaction surpassed US$1 million and by no means noticed scrutiny from the PPCC. More importantly, it didn’t move the odor check of Legislative approval as per the PPCC legislation and Revenue Law.
Also, in May, the Senate Joint Committee on Public Works and Rural Development, Public Accounts, and Audits, and Judiciary issued a report that exposed Roland Layfette Giddings, Oswald Tweh, Boima Kamara, and Bodger Scott Johnson of the Ministries of Public Works, Justice and Finance and Development Planning, and the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), respectively, for blatant breaches of the PPCC legislation. They had granted separate highway contracts totaling US$22.4 million to numerous firms with out adhering to applicable procurement procedures and related legislative protocols in addition to with out the approval of the 2024 nationwide price range.
Minister Giddings defended his resolution to contravene the legislation by asserting his authority to keep up important highway segments throughout the nation, significantly in the course of the wet season. He purportedly communicated with the PPCC searching for a “No Objection” to solely supply the rehabilitation and periodic upkeep of specified main highway corridors beneath the President’s 100 Days Deliverable undertaking for Fiscal Year 2024.
The joint senate committee report disclosed that on March 11, 2024, the Executive Director of the PPCC issued and licensed the “NO OBJECTION” for the businesses to hold out the contract with out an authorised 2024 price range. Minister Giddings even expressed remorse for what he known as the missteps in your entire procurement course of, extending apologies on behalf of himself, the Ministers of Finance and Justice, and the manager director of the PPCC. Sadly, the National Legislature pardoned the three ministers and the director of the PPCC. The PPCC and Revenue legal guidelines of Liberia stipulate that transactions exceeding $1 million should undergo a public procurement tendering course of and Legislative approval.
The Boakai administration has to date failed to make sure the independence of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC).
GRADE: C
2025 OUTLOOK: Will the as soon as highly effective entity grow to be impartial within the new 12 months? Too many “untouchable” officers did issues out of the bounds of the PPCC with none repercussions.
LIBERIA PETROLEUM REFINERY CORPORATION
MANAGING DIRECTOR, Amos Tweh
THE LOWDOWN: The LPRC is a state-owned entity, wholly owned by the Government of Liberia (GOL), with the mandate to acquire and provide high quality petroleum and petroleum associated merchandise to the Liberian market. During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, the LPRC, beneath Managing Director Amos Tweh, undertook key measures to revitalize Liberia’s oil and gasoline sector and alleviate the financial pressure brought on by the shortage and excessive costs of petroleum merchandise. These initiatives goal to cut back the price of dwelling for Liberians by making certain a gentle provide of reasonably priced gasoline.
At his takeover in February, MD Tweh pledged to work with related departments to make sure efficiency, punctuality, good work ethics and excessive productiveness. “We will place a premium on protecting company assets and utilize available resources more appropriately to facilitate the expansion of the company’s operations. We will strengthen operational and systems efficiency to adequately support preventive maintenance and ensure that vessel discharge and loading infrastructures are in their best state at all times.”
The MD pledged to work with varied licensed importers and distributors to information and shield their investments with a purpose to uphold the corporate’s enviable reputational credentials and make sure the uninterrupted availability and affordability of petroleum merchandise on the Liberian Market”, he stated.
2024 HIGH: During the 12 months beneath evaluation, the LPRC broke floor for 2 vital infrastructure initiatives on the Product Storage Terminal (PST) on Bushrod Island. The initiatives embrace the development of a brand new gasoline storage tank with a capability of 17,000 cubic meters and a state-of-the-art petroleum testing laboratory.
The new storage tank, as soon as accomplished, is predicted to considerably improve LPRC’s complete storage capability, bringing it to roughly 64,000 metric tons. This enlargement is predicted to play a vital function in stabilizing the petroleum market, stopping provide disruptions, and growing income, which will probably be reinvested in additional infrastructure enhancements.
In addition to growing storage capability, the undertaking additionally contains the development of a contemporary petroleum testing laboratory. The facility will probably be integral to making sure the standard and security of petroleum merchandise in Liberia, enabling LPRC to carry out rigorous testing and cling to the very best worldwide requirements.
During the 12 months, the LPRC additionally introduced its plans to import petroleum merchandise into the Liberian market by way of an settlement with Stratcon Energy and Trading Ltd., a Ghanaian-based oil import and distribution firm. The partnership, which is called a Sales Purchase Agreement (SPA), was formalized throughout a signing ceremony held on Wednesday, May 8, on the Product Storage Terminal (PST) on Bushrod Island.
MD Tweh hailed the settlement as a big second for the corporate, stating, “Today is truly a remarkable day in the history of the LPRC. This is a milestone achievement since the founding of the company.”
The LPRC additionally signed a Sale Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Stratcom to import Petroleum Products, thereby making certain stability within the provide of petroleum merchandise on the Liberia Market, diminished petrol pump worth from 900LD to 800 (PMS) and 1000 to 800 (AGO).
The LPRC additionally ensured the Sustained availability of all petroleum merchandise on the Liberian Market in the course of the interval of the previous 12 months and likewise diminished petroleum storage charges by 0.05 cent and the suspension of 0.20 surcharge.
The LPRC additionally ensured that it remitted all withholdings to authorities income and started cost of excellent withholding taxes. Additionally, the corporate started the development of a (17,000cm PMS tank) by way of an Eco-bank mortgage and started the development of a contemporary laboratory to check quite a lot of petroleum merchandise without charge to LPRC.
The entity additionally arrange and functionalized an audit advice implementation committee and arrange and operationalized claims committee. In addition, the entity commissioned an environmental and market feasibility research of the Ganta Oil Terminal (GOT) to make sure its operationalization.
The LPRC in the course of the 12 months elevated its dividend contribution from 900k within the final fiscal 12 months to 4 million USD and procure a contemporary and IFRS compliant Asset Management Software to make sure LPRC property are precisely accounted for and likewise concluded negotiations and signed a CBA with the United Worker Union to insure all workers of LPRC salaries are aligned and no worker of LPRC makes beneath the minimal wage of their grade.
The entity ensured quarterly monetary studies are well timed introduced • Commissioned an audit of the LPRC earlier than taking up. (Financial and Personnel Audits) and reviewed its procurement handbook to make sure it conforms to rules of the PPCC pointers. • Review LPRC Accounting Manual to make sure it conforms with IFRS requirements.
One of essentially the most important selections by Tweh’s administration was the cancellation of the controversial MEDTECH pre-shipment inspection course of for petroleum merchandise. “MEDTECH’s operations were not beneficial to the government or consumers,” Tweh defined. In addition, the surcharge on petroleum merchandise was eliminated, which had a direct impact on decreasing the pump costs of gasoline. Gasoline costs dropped from US$4.47 per gallon to US$3.98, and diesel from US$5.22 to US$4.18, bringing much-needed reduction to residents.
LPRC can be making ready to enter the lubricants market, partnering with worldwide suppliers to import high-grade merchandise. “We will not be retailing these products directly but will ensure they are available in the market through strategic partnerships,” Tweh stated.
2024 LOW: During the 12 months the LPRC was compelled to deal with studies of gasoline and gasoline shortages within the nation. Murmurs in some quarters recommended an acute petroleum scarcity available on the market thus making it tough for the citizenry to commute and do enterprise. The entity moved to allay these fears, describing the Information as malicious, unfaithful, and unfounded geared toward creating panic amongst residents.
In March, President Boakai issued an Executive Order to cut back the price of petroleum merchandise by 20 cents to alleviate the price of dwelling. However, petroleum sellers declare that the present worth imposed by the Ministry of Commerce is having an antagonistic impact on their enterprise and should hamper their means to import extra merchandise into the nation.
The President’s transfer was preceded by allegations that gasoline merchants had been hoarding costs. Motorists made noise after experiencing lengthy queues at some filling stations round Monrovia. Some gasoline stations like Aminata restricted the promoting of petrol to solely clients with coupons whereas PetroTrade and Connex claimed they had been out of inventory. This scenario is paying homage to an identical incidence at the start of the Weah-led authorities, which degenerated into an acute scarcity that closely impacted residents and the financial system. Some retailers blamed the shortage on the coercion by importers and sellers of petroleum merchandise who’ve been negotiating with the Joseph Boakai-led authorities to institute an increment within the retail worth of gasoline and diesel, however to no avail.
GRADE: B+
2025 OUTLOOK: How will the plan to enter the lubricants market play out within the new 12 months?
LIBERIA PETROLEUM REGULATORY AUTHORITY
DIRECTOR GENERAL, Marilyn Logan
THE LOWDOWN: The LPRA is the premier regulatory physique for the petroleum sector in Liberia, devoted to overseeing, regulating, and licensing petroleum operations. We create a clear, accountable, and investor-friendly setting that fosters accountable exploration and manufacturing actions. Through strategic partnerships, revolutionary insurance policies, and strong regulatory frameworks, LPRA goals to place Liberia as a aggressive and engaging vacation spot for petroleum funding, making certain that the advantages of our assets contribute to the long-term prosperity of all Liberians.
When President Joseph Boakai tipped Marilyn Logan as the brand new Director General for the LPRA, she vowed to rebrand and make the establishment viable coverage pushed when confirmed to the place.
At her affirmation listening to in March, Logan assured Senators and the Liberian folks that she intends to open up the LPRA to the general public and can make sure that the oil and gasoline sector is revitalized and engaging. She additionally famous that the establishment will preserve its credibility and independence beneath her watch with a purpose to preserve public belief and confidence.
Entering the fray with an goal to maximise public-private sector engagement geared to strengthen the oil and gasoline sector and never solely to merely entice buyers,” Logan expressed the hope that the LPRA will incorporate Liberians with experience within the oil and gasoline sector to assist in revamping the establishment in a method that may entice pursuits and belief.
2024 HIGH: During the 12 months beneath evaluation, the LPRA showcased Liberia’s hydrocarbon potential throughout Direct Negotiations on the prestigious Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston Texas. The OTC, a gathering of worldwide vitality professionals and enterprise executives, supplied a perfect platform for selling the Liberian basin and its upcoming licensing spherical. In separate conferences with oil and gasoline enterprise executives and leaders of oil & gasoline regulatory companies from Ghana and Nigeria, DG Logan highlighted Liberia’s new and mutually helpful fiscal regime for oil and gasoline concessions. “Liberia is ready for a new round of Direct Negotiation, and our administration is committed to ensuring a transparent process that yields mutually beneficial outcomes for Liberia and its partners,” Ms. Logan said. She emphasised the Joseph Boakai Administration’s dedication to excessive moral requirements and accountable enterprise practices and supplied detailed info on the LPRA’s new streamlined funding course of to enterprise leaders that expressed curiosity in Liberia.
The LPRA additionally participated within the Offshore Technology Conference and the Africa Energies Summit the place it underscores its dedication to revitalizing its oil and gasoline trade, leveraging networking alternatives, growing the nation’s visibility, and actively participating with trade leaders and different regulators. The OTC and AES conferences are invaluable boards for producing and exchanging revolutionary options and constructing consensus on urgent matters going through the offshore vitality sector. Both boards present a platform to showcase offshore potential. The conferences and displays of the Director General and the Deputy Director General and the relationships solid at each conferences are important steps to attracting accountable operators to the Liberian basin for exploration actions.
2024 LOW: While Liberia has provided concessionary offshore oil blocks for bidding and direct negotiation in recent times, few firms have expressed critical curiosity regardless of the invention of offshore oil in neighboring Cote d’Ivoire. The LPRA nonetheless stays hopeful. The authority is nonetheless hampered because of the truth that Liberia doesn’t have a functioning refinery. All petroleum merchandise are imported from overseas.
The sector suffered a picture dilemma when Prince Arthur Eze, no stranger to controversy in Liberia entered his title within the fray for oil blocks in Liberia. Ironically, Eze’s previous dealings with Liberia’s oil sector have been marred by accusations of exploitation in the course of the nation’s transition from civil warfare to peace. In 2010, Eze bought three offshore oil blocks to Chevron Corporation for $150 million, netting a private revenue of $200 million. According to Global Witness, the London-based watchdog, these oil blocks had been acquired with minimal charges by way of what had been described as bribes to legislative officers.
With the renewed name from NOCAL’s CEO, Eze has once more expressed curiosity in buying oil blocks, together with Blocks 15, 16, 22, and 24, which Exon Mobil utilized for prequalification, in line with the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The Liberia License Round, 2020 includes 9 blocks within the extremely potential Harper Basin. The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) has pre-qualified Seven (7) Liberian Companies.
GRADE: C
2025 OUTLOOK: There’s all the time considerations that the LPRA and the National Oil Company of Liberia are the identical. Which is it? Clarity may be wanted within the new 12 months.
NATIONAL INVESTMENT COMMISSION
CHAIRMAN, Jeff Bante Blibo
THE LOWDOWN: The NIC is the oversight company to display and monitor investments in Liberia. The Investment Act and Revenue Code mandate that solely Liberian residents could function companies within the following sectors and industries. The Investment Act additionally units minimal capital funding thresholds for overseas buyers in different enterprise actions, industries, and enterprises.
2024 HIGH: During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, the NIC expressed its dedication to positioning Liberia as a number one funding vacation spot. Despite working beneath monetary constraints, NIC reported important strides in fostering financial development, creating jobs, and constructing vital worldwide partnerships.
Under the management of Chairman Jeff Bante Blibo, NIC performed worldwide funding missions to China, the USA, Canada, and South Korea, showcasing Liberia’s funding potential. Key occasions included the Liberia Investment Conference and Liberia-Canada Investment Forum. Overall, the NIC has attracted over 521 buyers thinking about sectors like agriculture, vitality, mining, and infrastructure. NIC additionally signed a number of landmark agreements, together with a $3.1 billion MoU in the course of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The NIC additionally superior negotiations on vital agreements such because the ArcelorMittal Liberia Third Amendment and HPX Access Agreement, Putu Iron Ore Mining, and Western Cluster Limited, paving the best way for elevated overseas direct funding and infrastructural improvement.
Collaborations with worldwide stakeholders such because the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, and African Development Bank enabled the NIC to implement impactful initiatives and foster capacity-building initiatives.
During the 12 months beneath evaluation, the NIC recognized huge alternatives to proceed driving Liberia’s financial development: Promoting investments in agriculture, vitality, mining, and IT companies; Leveraging worldwide boards to draw high quality investments; Revitalizing dormant mining initiatives like Putu Iron Ore and exploring vital infrastructure ventures such because the Bomboja port development in Grand Cape Mount County.
2024 LOW: Despite its achievements, the NIC confronted important obstacles. For now, greater than 80% of the allotted price range was spent on worker compensation, limiting funds for promotional and operational actions. High rental prices and outdated autos constrained mobility and effectivity, and several other mining concessions stay dormant, requiring extra help to have interaction transaction advisors for renegotiations.
The NIC additionally got here beneath scrutiny in the course of the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation over a reported plan by the federal government to rent a Turkish-based firm, Albayrak Group, for the renovation of Roberts International Airport (RIA). The Company is alleged to be linked to former Guinean President Alpha Conde. Former President Conde reportedly has a concession take care of the Management of Albayrak Group. He is alleged to have communicated with President Joseph N. Boakai to award the RIA renovation contract to the Turkish Company.
Circumstances beneath which the deal is being mentioned might need safety implications on Liberia because the Guinean Military Leader Doumbouya could really feel detached if such a contract is awarded to the Turkish firm, which is linked to ousted President Conde.
Investigation additionally reveals that Senate President Pro-Tempore, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, James Ok. Mulbah, General Manager of RIA, and Board Chair of the RIA, Mr. Massaquoi Kamara, are stated to be the forerunners of the deal. At the identical time, RIA Board Chairman, Mr. Kamara is reportedly at loggerhead with Transport Minister, Sirleaf Tyler.
The stress between the 2 public officers follows opposition to the deal by Minister Tyler. In an effort to make sure that the deal is consummated, the National Investment Commission (NIC) has requested President Boakai to represent the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC).
A letter dated November 20, 2024, and addressed to President Boakai, the Chairman of the National Investment Commission (NIC), Jeff B. Blibo desires the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC) to deal with the financing and redevelopment of the Roberts International Airport (RIA). “As you are aware, financing the operations of the airport has been a significant challenge,” the letter said. It added that the Board of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) has determined to contract the companies of a non-public sector to speculate the capital required to resuscitate the airport and convey it as much as a contemporary facility.
Blibo reportedly knowledgeable the President that the potential developer will probably be required to enter right into a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) association, following which the airport will probably be turned over to the Government of Liberia. “To move forward with this initiative, the relevant approvals such as the LAA Board’s approval, issuance of the Concession Certificate by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and the Public Procurement and Concession Commission No Objection to proceed with a competitive process- been received,” Blibo said.
The NIC boss pressured that to make sure the conduct of the procurement course of in compliance with Section 81(3g) of the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA) of 2010, the structure of an Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC) is essential to supervise and facilitate this course of.
GRADE: B
2025 OUTLOOK: The NIC stays dedicated to its mission of driving sustainable financial development. To obtain this, it’s important to safe elevated monetary and operational help to boost its capability for funding promotion, concession administration, and infrastructure improvement. As Liberia continues to unlock its funding potential, the NIC will play a vital function in fostering a dynamic and aggressive setting for companies to thrive.
LIBERIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY
DIRECTOR GENERAL, Julius Dennis
THE LOWDOWN: The LCAA is tasked with offering for the regulation and promotion of civil aviation in Liberia, to foster its secure and orderly improvement. At the beginning of the 12 months, DG Julius Dennis expressed a dedication to instantly embark on a course of actions geared toward addressing and mitigating these anomalies with a excessive diploma of urgency.
Dennis’s short-term initiatives aimed to concentrate on attaining the 100 days deliverables as outlined within the Cluster Working Group (CWG) remaining report on the LCAA, prioritizing addressing the Significant Safety Concerns (SSCs) as highlighted within the 2022 ICAO USOAP CMA Audit outcomes, and equally necessary is the acquisition of the Automatic Weather Observation Station (AWOS). Every effort will probably be made to make sure full compliance to fulfill minimal acceptable ICAO Standards, and Recommended Practices (SARPs) within the shortest doable time.
His medium to long-term targets geared toward fulfilling necessities led to the re-opening of the Aircraft Registry on the LCAA. Working in collaboration with the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), the Executive Branch, The Ministry of Transport and all different related airports, facilitation stakeholders (LNP, Immigration, and so forth.). We will attempt to impact a transformational change on the Roberts International Airport, to considerably enhance operational performance, present superior buyer companies to present the travelling public a extra nice and cordial airport expertise, that which we’re all craving for.
During the course of the 12 months, Dennis and his group sought to offer enhanced high quality in service and productiveness by offering revolutionary technical regulatory supervision geared in direction of the promotion of a secure civil aviation sector in addition to place excessive worth in fostering teamwork, coaching and steady enchancment within the degree of professionalism commensurate with ICAO’s requirements.
2024 HIGH: During the 12 months beneath evaluation, the LCAA introduced the arrival of Ethiopian Airlines’ inaugural flight to Liberia. The historic flight landed on the Roberts International Airport on at present, November 30, 2024, marking a big milestone in Liberia’s aviation trade. The graduation of Ethiopian Airlines’ service to Liberia will undoubtedly improve connectivity; facilitate commerce, tourism, and people-to-people change between the 2 nations. This new route will present quite a few alternatives for financial development and improvement for each nations.
In October, Liberia made important strides in its worldwide aviation cooperation efforts, signing a number of agreements and securing partnerships on the International Civil Aviation Air Service Negotiations Event (ICAN2024) in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.
Key Agreements and Partnerships included a Memorandum of Understanding with Malaysia: Liberia and Malaysia signed an MoU to strengthen bilateral ties and improve cooperation in civil aviation security, safety, and coaching; Memorandum of Understanding with Togo: The two nations signed a MoU to enhance aviation security and effectivity; Air Service Agreement with Saudi Arabia: Liberia and Saudi Arabia signed an air service settlement to facilitate elevated flight operations and enhance tourism and commerce; Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Qatar: Liberia and Qatar agreed to resume and replace their current BASA, with an official signing ceremony scheduled for Doha in early January 2025; Potential Partnership with Emirates Airlines: The LCAA held productive discussions with Emirates Airlines to discover potential future collaborations; Ethiopian Airlines Launch: Liberia and Ethiopia finalized a Bilateral Air Services Agreement, paving the best way for Ethiopian Airlines to start operations in Liberia in late November 2024 and a possible Cooperation with Jamaica: Liberia and Jamaica mentioned potential aviation cooperation alternatives.
At the signing, DG Dennis indicated that “these agreements are a testament to Liberia’s commitment to strengthening its international aviation partnerships and promoting economic growth. We look forward to the benefits these collaborations will bring to our nation”.
During the 12 months the LCAA has taken important strides towards resolving vital security considerations raised in latest International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audits. The coaching, which was launched on Monday, October 7, 2024, on the Royal Ambassador Hotel in Joe Blow Town, Unification City, Margibi County, designed to deal with points recognized within the Air Navigation Service (ANS) space, significantly referring to Liberia’s instrument flight procedures.
The LCAA additionally concluded its participation within the 14th Air Navigation Conference (ANC) in Montreal, Canada. The convention, held beneath the theme “Performance Improvement Driving Sustainability,” introduced collectively aviation leaders from world wide to debate key trade points. The delegation from the LCAA consisted of its Director General, Julius D. Dennis, Jr., Deputy Director General for Technical Services, Atty. Augustine Tamba and Raphael Tarr, Director, Air Navigation Services.
During the convention, the LCAA met with representatives from the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), securing commitments for technical, monetary, and human useful resource improvement help. These collaborations will strengthen Liberia’s aviation sector and align it with worldwide requirements.
The LCAA additionally engaged with civil aviation authorities from South Africa and Rwanda, agreeing to formalize Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements (BASAs). These agreements will facilitate cooperation and collaboration between the nations.
During the 12 months beneath evaluation, the LCAA convened the inaugural assembly of the National Civil Aviation Security Committee (NCASC) on August 22, 2024, on the LCAA’s headquarters in Harbel, Margibi County. The committee was established by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. as a part of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) necessities for the state to be in full compliance. In the 2022 ICAO audit, Liberia scored low marks due to its failure to represent this committee.
During the assembly, the LCAA introduced its imaginative and prescient for the NCASC, outlining its function in creating and implementing a complete civil aviation safety plan. The committee additionally mentioned potential areas of collaboration and recognized key priorities for the approaching months.
2024 LOW: During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, questions lingered over the function the LCAA performed within the extradition of Ibrahim Khalil Cherif, a Guinean nationwide the Junta authorities believes was on a mission to recruit former rebels of LURD. Cherif was arrested simply days previous to the arrival of commandos on the Roberts International Airport. It stays unclear who gave the order for the flight to land. Cherif’s arrest was already inflicting anger, with some Muslim teams saying that they may not perceive why he was arrested. Many started to concern that Cherif had been picked up by safety and turned over to the Guinean commandos and killed.
The extradition drew ire from Cllr. Kabineh J’aneh. Cllr. J’aneh, a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, additionally a former member of LURD, went a step additional and accused the Unity Party authorities of “kidnapping” Cherif, his shopper. Cllr. J’aneh alleges that Cherif’s present whereabouts are unknown. According to Ja’neh, there’s suspicion that Cherif could have been handed over to Guinean authorities with out due authorized course of. The arrest raised diplomatic tensions between Liberia and Guinea, with Guinea accusing Liberia of harboring people intent on destabilizing its management.
The LCAA by no means totally defined who gave the order for the flight to the touch down.
GRADE: B-
2025 OUTLOOK: Will the LCAA be extra clear within the coming 12 months relating to issues of extradition?
LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY
CHAIRMAN, Atty. J. Adams Manobah
THE LOWDOWN: The LLA is a product of the coverage, authorized and institutional reform of the land sector of Liberia led by the Erstwhile Land Commission. The LLA, established by an Act of the National Legislature on October 6, 2016, as an autonomous company of the Government with operational independence, subsumes land features that had been carried out by a number of companies of the Government, together with the important thing land administration companies – Department of Lands, Survey and Cartography of the previous Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME), now the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Deeds and Titles Registry of the Center for National Documents Records Agency (CNDRA), and features of County Land Commissioners from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Liberia has been plagued with lingering points round land and pure assets, key parts deemed as central to peace, prosperity, and reconstruction. In the aftermath of the civil wars, (1989-1997, 1999-2003) – fueled partly by conflicts over land and pure useful resource rights and funded with timber and diamonds—the nation underwent an extended complete reform interval that resulted within the Land Rights Act of 2018. The new land legislation is well known as a milestone in the entire area, selling equitable entry to land and assets, tenure safety, funding, and improvement. However, a number of the primary land points in Liberia at present are the displacement of native communities associated to authorities land concessions for logging, mining, and large-scale agriculture; city poverty; and girls’s land rights.
Over the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, the LLA explored drone expertise geared toward enhancing its land surveying capabilities. In collaboration with the Swedish Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authority by way of ILAMP to acquire a state-of-the-art drone, drones procured geared toward modernizing land administration practices and environment friendly and correct land surveying processes within the nation.
2024 HIGH: During the 12 months beneath evaluation,the LLA commenced the implementation of Customary Land Formalization in Sixty (60) communities throughout 5 (5) counties as Local Authority and Joint Security in B’Hai Administrative District have a good time authorities intervention.
The LLA with funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and help from UNDP additionally undertook a Customary Land Formalization (CLF) exercise in Sixty (60) customary communities throughout 5 counties, specifically, Grand Gedeh, Nimba, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu and Bomi Counties.
The actions which started in Grand Gedeh County (Southeastern Liberia), witnessed nice pleasure from the native authority, joint safety, conventional leaders, chiefs, girls and youth teams of B’Hai Administrative District, after 4 Clans (Tian Dougee, Marbo #1, B’Hai Nicko and Duo Clans), obtained Community-Self Identification (CSI) Certificates after the completion of actions required for CSI Certificate. The group land deed is the ability and authority of the group. Because the safety of our land is the safety of the way forward for the following era” Chief Robert Pah, Paramount Chief, Tarwan Chiefdom, B’Hai Administrative District.
The LLA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the PeaceBuilding Fund (PBF) of the United Nations, educated members of the Customary Land Development and Management Committee (CLDMC) and Local Government Authority (LGA) together with Paramount Chiefs, Clan Chiefs, Town Chiefs, and different stakeholders within the land sector.
The coaching was a part of the actions of a newly authorised three years undertaking “Enhancing Peace and Social Cohesion through the Promotion of Equitable Access to and Use of Land for Rural Women in Conflict-Prone Communities and Concession”. It was designed to construct the capability of CLDMCs and native actors throughout the undertaking catchment communities as they perform their varied roles, obligations, and features as enshrined within the Land Rights Act of 2018.
The coaching performed in February in Grand Cape Mount County coated three of the 5 undertaking counties, specifically, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, and Nimba. The goal is to make sure that County land places of work, county land boards, and CLDMCs have the capability and information of procedures, and techniques wanted to undertake boundary harmonization and formalization of customary land on the group degree, to forestall battle, guarantee peaceable coexistence and reply to the wants of communities together with girls, youth, and susceptible teams by creating equal entry to land for communities.
Also in the course of the 12 months, hundreds of residents, together with native authority, conventional leaders, senior elders, and girls and youth teams in Fesibu Community expressed nice pleasure after the LLA by way of USAID-Liberia funded-Land Management Activity (LMA) Project, issued Fesibu group its Statutory Land Deed after the profitable completion of the steps and processes required for Customary Land Formalization (CLF) as enshrined within the Land Rights Act (LRA) of 2018. The colourful occasion which was held in Zorzor City introduced collectively high-level representatives from the LLA, LMA, USAID-Liberia, Local County Authority, Traditional Leaders, Women and Youth teams, Students, and a whole lot of group dwellers.
2024 LOW: A 2024 Freedom House report highlighted in the course of the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation that conflicts over land stay widespread and lots of originated in the course of the civil wars and subsequent displacement and resettlement. Others are the results of opaque concession agreements. Judicial backlogs restrict the chance for authorized redress.
According to the report, the 2018 Land Rights Act (LRA) formalized group possession of ancestral land. However, the Liberia Land Authority lacks the capability to take care of rising disputes. The LRA presents better land rights for girls, however customary practices that prevail in a lot of Liberia drawback girls on points akin to inheritance of land and land possession after divorce.
During the 12 months, the LLA got here beneath fireplace when delegates on the 2024 National Land Conference known as on the Land Authority to hurry up the issuance of deeds to customary communities. Dozens of communities have accomplished the required course of to acquire a customary land deed beneath the Land Rights Act however are but to get their titles. Out of some 150 communities, solely 36 have obtained their deeds for the reason that creation of the legislation in 2018, in line with out there figures. “There is a need to fast-track the formalization of customary land in Liberia, and grant their deeds after the Ganta conference,” stated James Yarsiah, the chief organizer of the convention, the second in two years. “Deeds are taking too long to process, the cost is too high, and donors are getting concerned,” Yarsiah added.
The convention seeks to evaluation the implementation of the Land Rights Act, which is hailed worldwide however has confronted enforcement challenges. The Land Rights Act ensures customary land possession however requires rural communities to finish a authorized course of.
During the 12 months, the LLA was compelled to refute a declare by Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL), suggesting the federal government had settled a boundary dispute between two communities in Sinoe County. In a latest report to Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which regulates the oil palm trade worldwide, GVL claimed the Land Authority had “decided” on the battle between the Du-Wolee Nyennue Township and the Numopoh District. “The communication session on the result to both communities will be [carried] out in [the fourth quarter] of 2024 with new government officials,” GVL stated within the report.
The 12 months additionally noticed heightening stress in Todee, Montserrado District #1, as villagers in Jocko and Beaseto accused Bong County Senator, Prince Ok. Moye of buying ancestral lands beneath questionable situations. The land dispute, stretching again to 2018, has left many households reportedly uncompensated and struggling to outlive. The battle highlights broader problems with land rights, truthful compensation, and accountability amongst Liberia’s rural communities. Critics took problem with the LLA’s silence on the matter. For generations, the folks of Jocko and Beaseto have lived and farmed on these lands, deeply linked to their tradition and livelihood. However, villagers declare they had been pressured by Moye’s authority to vacate, resulting in the lack of property, revenue, and self-sufficiency.
According to Liberia’s Land Rights Act of 2018, communities with steady use of land have possession rights with out formal deeds. “This is all we have,” stated Momoh F. Diana, a resident of Marquoi Clan, voicing a collective plea for justice.
GRADE: C
2025 OUTLOOK: A lingering problem that simply received’t go away. Will the approaching 12 months be any completely different for landowners, squatters and rights advocates?
NATIONAL PORT AUTHORITY
MANAGING DIRECTOR, Sekou A.M. Dukuly
THE LOWDOWN: The National Port Authority (NPA) was established by an Act of National Legislature in 1967 and amended in 1970 as a state-owned company to handle, plan, and construct all public ports in Liberia. The NPA system includes 4 ports: Freeport of Monrovia, Port of Buchanan, Port of Greenville, and Port of Harper though in latest weeks, in the course of the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, there was a critical push to wrestle authority away from the NPA. The Freeport of Monrovia is the biggest throughout the Authority’s community. The harbor on the Freeport of Monrovia is protected by two rock breakwaters roughly 2,300 meters and a couple of,200 meters lengthy, enclosing a basin of 300 hectares of protected water.
Upon taking up the port firstly of the 12 months, New MD Sekou Dukuly vowed to revive the NPA to its pre-war standing. “Maximizing productivity is crucial to the restoration and vibrancy of the NPA,” Dukuly proclaimed. Speaking when he formally took workplace in February, Mr. Dukuly promised to create alternatives for the advance of income era and make workers’ welfare paramount, rallying them to place in additional effort on the job.
Despite Dukuly’s pledge, essentially the most urgent problem on the port previously 12 months was the passage of a invoice within the Senate to determine an Independent Seaport and Inland Ports Regulatory Authority, geared toward selling sustainable improvement and regulation of port operations throughout the nation. The invoice, nonetheless awaiting concurrence by the House of Representatives, seeks to boost the regulation of Liberia’s seaports and inland ports, making certain safer, extra clear, and orderly operations. It additionally goals to help the sustainable improvement of port amenities and companies. The Senate’s resolution adopted suggestions from its Joint Committee on Public Corporations and Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims, and Petitions.
The NPA MD has been at loggerheads with supporters of the invoice, specifically, Senate Pro Temp Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence and Senator Abraham Darius Dillon who want to achieve the higher hand in bringing buyers to revamp the port of Buchanan.
The invoice has since been greeted with skepticism and criticism. Grand Bassa County Senator Gbehzohngar Findley argued that the proposed laws fails to deal with Liberia’s port administration challenges and advocated as a substitute for privatization. The controversial invoice, which seeks to grant autonomy to Buchanan, Greenville, and Harper seaports, now heads to the House of Representatives for concurrence. “I don’t support autonomy; I support privatization of the ports,” stated Findley. “Privatization would allow individuals to purchase shares and take control, as opposed to having it remain under government control,” Senator Findley famous.
2024 HIGH: During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, the NPA commenced the disbursement of stay checks to over 2,000 workers and contractors in an initiative geared toward impacting personnel on the ports of Monrovia, Buchanan in Grand Bassa County, Harper in Maryland County, and Greenville in Sinoe County. The train was geared in direction of eliminating non-existent or ghost names from the payrolls to guarantee an correct and clear compensation system.
MD Dukuly additionally introduced that the gateway to Liberia made a budgetary contribution of US$2 million to Liberia’s common income account after 5 months of operations beneath the management of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. Making the pronouncement in June on the Ministry of Information common press briefing, NPA MD Dukuly, pressured that the US$2 million contribution is only a starting, affirming that the NPA will make an identical contribution to the nationwide income envelope of Liberia after each 5 months.
Dukuly, who displayed a symbolic verify, stated the present contribution by the NPA administration is excess of the US$4 million which was contributed by authorities of the port in six years beneath the previous CDC authorities. “Let me say to you, that NPA because the gateway to our financial system will do all the pieces doable to help our financial system, “Dukuly stated. He disclosed that the overall income generated from all ports throughout the nation over the previous 5 months is US$13 million.
At the beginning of the 12 months, MD Dukuly, in a FrontPageAfrica interview sought to deal with the price of delivery containers to Liberia which is at an all-time excessive for a lot of Liberians both trying to transfer house or usher in containers for enterprise. Dukuly acknowledged that the dilemma going through scores of Liberians, will probably be excessive on his agenda as he assumes command of the port. “I am particularly aware of the challenges and bottlenecks at the NPA. I have shipped things quite too many times, especially my car, personal belongings, and furniture. I know how stressful it was to clear those things from the port,” Dukuly advised FrontPageAfrica Monday.
In the latter a part of the 12 months, the NPA and Morocco’s ports administration agency, Marsa Maroc, signed an settlement geared toward reworking the Liberian port infrastructure right into a regional hub. The strategic partnership, signed on Tuesday, November 14, 2024, seeks to modernize and develop the West African nation’s port infrastructure. The signing marked an necessary step within the cooperation between the 2 events and strengthened Marsa Maroc’s presence within the West African market, following its contract to function the Port of Cotonou in Benin. This partnership can be a part of Liberia’s efforts to revitalize its port amenities, a key sector for the nation’s financial improvement.
2024 LOW: The National Port Authority (NPA) in Liberia has introduced that it’s at present investigating an alleged incident involving the unauthorized elimination of a consignment of rice from its facility. The administration of the NPA has said that they’re conscious of the scenario and are taking quick motion to deal with the difficulty. A press convention has been scheduled for Monday, March 11, 2024, the place the NPA will present additional particulars and findings from the continued investigation. The NPA has assured the media and most of the people that the probe will probably be performed impartially and that every one people concerned within the incident will probably be prosecuted in line with the findings of the investigation.
Additionally, the NPA has emphasised that the Managing Director and your entire management group won’t be topic to any type of blackmail. The Managing Director is totally dedicated to implementing structural reforms on the FreePort of Liberia to forestall such incidents from occurring sooner or later.
With simply three days into 2024, the gateway to Liberia’s financial system, the National Port Authority seems to be partly strangulated with the shutting down of main actions throughout the port amenities.
The resolution by the Customs Brokers and National Truckers Association, if continued, will vastly have an effect on the income envelope of the nation. Speaking throughout day certainly one of its joint official protest motion, the President of the National Customs Brokers Association of Liberia, James Hinneh, stated the continual limitations to commerce within the nation are unacceptable.
According to him, the alleged enforcement of a brand new coverage instituted by the National Port Authority is premature and unlucky. The new alleged coverage, amongst different issues, he said, places a further invoice on each container leaving the port facility by way of the weighbridge.
This, he famous, is unrealistic, particularly with the unstable quantity at present charged per ton and container, respectively. He additionally alleged that even when a truck passes the weighbridge however has a traditional weight, the quantity of $10 USD will probably be paid, aside from all different earlier and agreed bills; this, he stated, is unfair. “We should have had meetings, discussed this issue in depth and agreed upon as one body to ensure effective implementation, but not as abruptly as was done,” he blasted. Moreover, the legislation he indicated states that earlier than the enforcement of any coverage, publication ought to have been performed for at the very least three months to inform their shoppers and different key stakeholders within the sector, one thing he stated was not performed.
Mr. Hinneh pressured that they may stay engaged and in a non-violent method and kind however on the identical time very resolute till the precise and needful could be performed by the obligation bearers. “Our unending protest will continue even though it will directly and indirectly affect the general populace, but we have to do this in order for the right and proper thing to be done,” he maintained.
GRADE: D
2025 OUTLOOK: Will President Boakai put pen to paper and log off on the controversial to determine an impartial seaport and inland regulatory authority? How will the NPA survive with restricted powers and management?
LIBERIA ELECTRICITY CORPORATION
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, Monie Captan
THE LOWDOWN: The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) is a public utility created by the Government of the Republic of Liberia in 1973 by way of an act of Legislature with a mandate to supply and provide financial and dependable electrical energy to your entire nation. The entity was concurrently tasked with sustaining the company’s monetary viability and make sure that environment friendly, dependable, and reasonably priced electrical energy is on the market to all Liberians.
Despite the LEC’s mandate, electrical energy entry is low. In Liberia’s city areas solely 34% of the inhabitants have entry to energy whereas in rural areas it’s virtually 0%.Around 21% of complete electrical energy manufacturing got here from renewable vitality sources in 2010. Liberia has the potential to further develop its wind, solar, and hydroelectric energy resources.The country aims to generate 75% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Formal electricity services are solely provided by the state-owned LEC which operates a small grid almost exclusively in the Greater Monrovia District. The vast majority of electric energy services are provided by small privately owned generators. At $0.54 per kWh, the electricity tariff in Liberia is among the highest in the world.
As the supply of cheap, stable and affordable electricity remains a challenge in post-conflict Liberia, Monie Captan, the departed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the LEC, during the year under review, recommended the purchasing of electricity from any source as one of the best ways forward to address the situation.
Despite the expenditure of nearly a billion United States dollars to revive Liberia’s shattered energy sector that was destroyed as a result of the 14 years civil conflict, the supply of stable electricity remains far from coming to fruition. This makes the LEC, the public utility corporation responsible for ensuring the generation, supply and transmission of electricity to households and businesses, the most heavily criticized public service delivery entity in the country.
The situation caught the attention of members of the Senate Committee on Lands, Mines, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment headed by Grand Cape Mount County Senator Simeon Taylor. Speaking when he appeared for public hearing before the committee at the Capitol Building on Monday, March 18, Mr. Captan admitted that Liberia is currently faced with an “energy crisis.”
2024 HIGH: After much-publicized political pressure, Captan bade fare thee well to the LEC as his contract as LEC CEO, expired on November 30, 2024.
Captan’s reign was filled with challenges. Taking over from a foreign management company, ESBI International from Ireland, which was financed by both the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the World Bank, ESBI, under the support of management reforms and technical assistance, competitively recruited a senior management resource pool, from where a successor management team of Liberians was selected, trained, and mentored, thus reintroducing a merit-based system to hiring. Along with this team, Captan assumed management of LEC in July 2022, and I am proud to report that this is one of the most professional teams I have worked with and is well capable of continuing the management of LEC.
Captan took over at a time when only three out of four turbines at Mt. Coffee were functional, while all the thermal generators at Bushrod were down for maintenance and repairs. As a result, the national grid relied on only 3 hydro units which were only available mainly in the rainy season. “Our first action was to repair all the thermal units and get them up and running. We accomplished this task at a cost of over $2m and restored all the HFO units thus adding 28MW of installed capacity to our generation supply,” Captan told his final news conference at the end of his tenure.
According to Captan, in 2022, LEC supplied 275,426MWH of energy, which increased to 464,993MWH in 2023, and as of October 2024 energy supply had already reached 430,344 with a projection of over 520,000MWH by the end of 2024. Thus from 2023 to 2024, energy supply will increase by 88.79%. This supply of energy has been a critical driver of socio-economic growth and has positively impacted on manufacturing, education, health, and overall quality of life in our homes.
At the end of 2022, commercial losses were reported at 41.3%, which decreased to 31.4% in 2023, and which further decreased to 27.5% by October 2024. Thus from 2022 to October 2024, commercial losses have decreased by a total of 33.4%. This achievement was realized through a cocktail of innovative interventions – the establishment of the Anti-Power Task Force, robust metering and regularization of illegal consumers, regular onsite meter audits and vigorous monitoring of large customers, and a more robust responsive meter maintenance team.
In 2022, LEC earned a total of $24,000,000, which increased to $54,660,000 in 2023, and $56,610,000 by October 2024, with a projected revenue of $68,000,000 by the end of 2024. Thus, from 2022 to 2024, revenue will increase by 183%. However, energy supply costs have increased with the decreasing proportion of hydropower from Mt. Coffee. The geographical span of the national grid has also grown significantly, resulting in increasing operating costs. The expansion of the grid across transmission, distribution and generation, the increase in the number of customers, and the increase in energy imports, have all led to additional demands for more staff, vehicles, specialized equipment, tools, spare parts and equipment, customer outlets, IT equipment and software, and consumables. Prudent fiscal management is therefore a critical requirement for the company’s sustainability.
In 2022, LEC net loss was US$27.2 million which decreased to $18.3 million in 2023 and is expected to further decrease to about $11 million in December 2024. The corporation estimates that it will break even in the next two years subject to several assumptions, including restoration of Mt. Coffee Unit 1 turbine, commissioning of the new 20MW solar power plant, government payment of energy bills and further reduction in commercial losses.
Since the inception of power import from CIE/CI Energies through the CLSG Transmission line, LEC has been billed $32,499,334 for energy imported, of which the amount of $27,116,114 has been paid as of October 2024 leaving an outstanding balance of $5,383,224. Additionally, LEC has also been billed by Transco CLSG a total of $9,425,267 for transmission charges, of which $8,314,034 has been paid, leaving an outstanding balance of $1,111,233.
As of September 30, 2024, the balance on the Cross-Border HTA legacy debt was US$10,672,550. This amount is owed CIE in part by the Government of Liberia, and the operators of the distribution networks in Nimba, Bong, Maryland, Grand Gedeh and River Gee Counties. This debt was rescheduled over a three-year payment period agreed with the Ivorian authorities.
2024 LOW: As part of efforts to crack down on power theft which usually leads to the destruction of lives and properties, the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) retrieved a stolen brand new 100KVA transformer in the Township of West Point in Monrovia. The transformer was retrieved by the LEC Investigative Team headed by James Doeway and officers of the Liberia National Police on Monday, November 25.
A major problem confronting the LEC is the government’s failure to pay its debt. The GoL is the largest consumer of the electricity supplied by LEC, which accounts for approximately 14% of all energy sold. Currently, the government is indebted to LEC in the amount of $18,975,049 as of October 31, 2024. The LEC management and the Board of Directors have engaged the government through the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to ensure that beginning 2025, budgetary allocations will be made to pay for the energy consumption of each government entity through prepay metering service. The payment of energy bills by the government will improve LEC’s capacity to pay for energy imports and the maintenance of its electrical network, thus improving service delivery to the general public.
In 2022, LEC total customer base stood at 199,441 customers, which increased to 282,505 in 2023, and by October 2024 had reached a total of 306,433 customers. Thus, LEC customer base increased from 2022 to October 2024 by 53.6%.
To complement the support of Donor Partners, LEC for the first time in post – war Liberia committed a portion of its revenue annually to connect households in unserved communities. Under its Gap Communities Electrification Project, LEC financed the connection of 9974 households across nineteen unserved communities to the grid at $5.2M. Some of these communities had no electricity since the end of the war, and others from before the war. Beneficiary communities include Zeon Town, Iron Factory, Wanwosu, Virginia Red Hill Field, Brewerville Store, New Jerusalem Johnsonville etc. LEC is continuing its GCEP into its 5th Cycle with the connection of 1039 households in Paynesville and Bardnersville at an additional cost of $630,000.
The General Auditing Commission (GAC) commenced audit of LEC on July 30, 2024, for the period 2018 to 2023. The audit is ongoing and will be published once completed. Concurrently, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) is auditing LEC for the period 2021 to 2022. This audit is ongoing and will be published once completed.
GRADE: B
2025 OUTLOOK: All eyes on President Boakai and his inner circle politically driven interim management team to see if they can solve the electricity crisis in Liberia
FOREST DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
MANAGING DIRECTOR , Rudolph J. Merab, Sr
THE LOWDOWN: The FDA is a semi-public autonomous corporation created by an act of the legislature on December 20, 1976, with the mandate to sustainably manage and conserve the forests and related resources of the country for the benefit of present and future generations. President Joesph Boakai took a controversial decision to turn the page back in time with his choice of Rudolph J. Merab as head of the controversy-ridden authority.
Merab, an ally to former President Charles Taylor, and whose companies were twice found to have engaged in illegal logging, came as a surprise to many. One of Merab’s companies was even mentioned in the trial of Charles Taylor, a former Liberia president who was convicted of war crimes during the civil war in neighboring country Sierra Leone.
His appointment also drew ire from the United Kingdom and European Union, both major donors to Liberian forest conservation, who had hoped that a change in government would bring about a new era. Merab’s predecessor Mike Doryen, appointed by former President Weah was a sore eye to donors and President Weah refused to sack him despite sustained diplomatic pressure, was voted out of office last year. That meant a new boss of the FDA.
The sector itself has been under scrutiny for years. According to the Associated Press, last year $3 million of timber had been illegally logged under the FDA’s then-managing director Mike Doryen. He presided over a shadow system for illegal log exports in which up to 70% of timber was exported off the books, a dossier compiled by the U.K. Foreign Office said. Doryen has denied wrongdoing.
Liberia’s forest resources face several challenges and threats which are causing considerable damage to the integrity of the ecosystems and the provision of essential ecosystem services, including soil quality, forest cover and forest health, water quality, plants and animals. Under President Boakai, it seems the FDA has not skipped a beat from its troubled past and just in the first year, the signs appear to be mimicking previous years.
2024 HIGH: During the year under review,representatives of Liberia and the European Union (EU) concluded their 12th Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) Meeting, which oversaw the implementation of the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between Liberia and the EU, a press release said recently.This agreement aimed to improve forest governance and promote legal timber trade between the EU and Liberia.
The 2-day meeting held in Monrovia on November 26 and 28, 2024, was co-chaired by Hon. Philip Parker IV, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and Chair of the Liberia Implementation Committee (LIC) for the Republic of Liberia, and Ambassador Nona Deprez, Head of the EU Delegation to Liberia for the EU. The meeting was also attended by officials from the Liberian ministries concerned, representatives from the European Commission in Brussels, and forest sector stakeholders, including civil society organizations, rural communities, the private sector, and development partners.
During the high-level discussions, the European Union informed the Government of Liberia of its desire to transition from the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) to a Forest Partnership (FP), which the EU thinks is a more holistic and cost-effective instrument, aligned with evolving EU policies and regulations and more suited to the needs and opportunities of the Liberia Forest Sector. The Government of Liberia listened to the EU’s proposal and requested a formal communication from the EU to the Government of Liberia to inform internal discussions, emphasizing the need for high-level engagements on the subject.
The Parties and forest sector stakeholders had in-depth conversations on the progress regarding benefit sharing, efforts to increase legal compliance, and the implementation of prior JIC decisions. There was also a session on support from the EU for forest governance and sustainable forest management, most notably a recently signed 3.5 million Euro program which will be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Also, during the year, the Conservation Department of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) met in June held a crucial round table Stakeholders’ Engagement meeting with score of conservation partners and outlined its vision, mission, goals and priorities for 2024. The meeting is basically aimed at identifying the various actors, their respective areas of interventions, influences as well as interests in the sector. The meeting afforded the participating parties the opportunity to identify and discuss progress, challenges, lessons learned and planned interventions in the sector going forward. At the meeting each participating actor provided an overview of their work and its impact on conservation activities.
At that meeting, Mr. Merab underscored the importance of the meeting and urged the partners to redouble their efforts in meeting the goals and objectives as it relates to protecting biodiversity. He used the occasion to reecho FDA’S readiness to rigorously monitor those projects undertaken by the partners to ensure that deliverables are met within the specified timetable.
The authority also held meetings with international partners, NGOs, local and international, CSOs and Forestry practitioners for the launch of the LEH Go Green Project which envisaged to improve natural resources governance and business environment for sustainable-based activities in line with the 2021-2024 EU programing Forestry & Conservation Contribution to TEI ‘ Sustainable Forestry and Biodiversity in Liberia.
2024 LOW: During the year under review, chainsaw-milled timber emerged as a damaging new form of illegal logging in Liberia. Chainsaw milling is legally permitted only for small-scale production of boards for the country’s domestic market, but larger operators may be using it as a means to evade regulations governing the sourcing and tracing of wood, and to avoid paying royalties to communities.
Liberia has the largest intact forests in West Africa, a reservoir for biodiversity and a vital resource for the people who live in them. During the long civil war that began in the 1990s, armed factions indiscriminately felled large areas for valuable timber to pay their fighters and enrich their leaders. Establishing effective regulation of the timber industry was an important part of the peace process negotiated in the mid-2000s.
In the postwar period, Liberia set up a system meant to ensure that wood is sustainably harvested only from licensed concessions, and volumes of timber are properly accounted for to ensure the state and local communities get their share of the taxes and royalties. The time, place, and date of every tree harvested commercially is meant to be recorded in the LiberTrace tracking system. Raw, round logs are exported to foreign markets, mainly to European Union countries, China and Vietnam.
Chainsaw milling is an exception. Currently, small-scale operators are allowed to reach informal agreements with local communities to fell trees and cut them into boards. The timber they produce is solely for sale in Liberia’s domestic markets and meant to be no thicker than 2 inches (5 centimeters).
Also, during the year, an investigation by DayLIght uncovered that the FDA approved the export of 797 logs (4,702.679 cubic meters) valued at an estimated US$1 million for a company. The investigation was based on an analysis of the consignment generated by the FDA log-tracking computer system or LiberTrace. The report cited a screenshot of LiberTrace’s historical past of West Water Group (Liberia) Inc.’s logs.
An evaluation of the consignment FDA’s laptop system generated by, obtained by The DayLight, recognized 401 logs, or 50.3 % of the consignment as unlawful logs. The LiberTrace system tracks logs from their origin to their remaining vacation spot. Programmed routinely to flag noncompliance, it’s a essential a part of forestry reform following years of corruption and mismanagement. SGS, a Swiss verification agency, created LiberTrace in 2014 and turned it over to the FDA 5 years later.
Details of the red-flagged logs appeared on the export allow and a National Port Authority doc. That proved the FDA didn’t guarantee West Water corrected the problems LiberTrace raised earlier than sanctioning the export. The export allow and a National Port Authority reconciliation report present that West Water Group (Liberia) Inc., which operates in Grand Bassa and Nimba Counties, owns the cargo. Merab had authorised the export barely two weeks after his appointment in February, in line with the allow.
The 4,702.679 cubic meters of logs had been loaded onto M/V Tropical Star, a ship flying beneath the Malaysian flag. The vessel departed the Port of Buchanan on March 16 certain for China. Marine Traffic, which offers info on the motion of ships, studies that the ship is due in China on May 16. Wenzhou Timber Group Co. Ltd, the Chinese state-owned agency that offers in timber and different trades, purchased the consignment, in line with the allow.
GRADE: F
2025 OUTLOOK: When will Liberia get it proper with a sector, if utilized proper could be a main driver of the native financial system. Next 12 months?
LIBERIA TELECOMMUNICATONS AUTHORITY
ACTING CHAIRPERSON, Abdullah L. Kamara
Administration, Operations and Legal Affairs
THE LOWDOWN: The LTA is an impartial fee of presidency established by the Telecommunications Act 2007 and clothed with the authority to manage the telecommunications sector of Liberia. The LTA’s obligations embrace: Advise authorities on coverage for the telecommunications sector, Develop and implement Regulations, Decisions, Rules and Orders for the telecommunications sector, License and authorize telecommunications service suppliers, companies, and techniques, Manage Liberia’s radio spectrum and numbering assets, Regulate and promote truthful and efficient competitors throughout the telecommunications sector, Regulate interconnection between telecommunications service suppliers and networks, Establish and implement safeguards for client safety, Approve telecommunications gear and terminal units linked to networks in Liberia, Resolve disputes between service suppliers, and between clients and repair suppliers, Facilitate the event of the telecommunications sector, and promote the accessibility of reasonably priced and dependable telecommunications companies in Liberia.
During the 12 months beneath evaluation, President Joseph Boakai, ,talking on the opening of the three-day cybersecurity consciousness convention, pressed for the creation of a complete technique to sort out cybersecurity points. The President emphasised the necessity for prioritizing cybersecurity in all authorities ministries and companies and urged the Liberian National Legislature to shortly move the draft Cybercrime Bill, which might allow authorized measures in opposition to cybercriminal actions and assist restore belief in Liberia’s vital ICT infrastructure and web companies.
The main problem for the authority in the course of the 12 months nonetheless was the suspension of the Board of Commissioners. The Executive Mansion stated the officers had been suspended for what it known as questionable monetary transactions and different malpractices. Those suspended embrace the Board’s Chairperson Edwina Zackpah, and Commissioners, Israel Akinsanya, Wotawon Titus, James Gbarwea, and Osborne Diggs. An announcement from the Executive Mansion issued on Friday, April 26, 2024, stated:” The LTA, as a vital establishment answerable for regulating the Telecommunications Sector within the Country, is predicted to uphold excessive requirements of integrity and accountability. President Boakai has since mandated the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to conduct a complete audit of the LTA, and known as on the suspended officers to cooperate with the investigation. In their place, the President named Abdullah Kamara, Angela Cassell Bush, Clarence Massaquoi, and Patrick Honnah as Acting Chairperson and Acting Commissioners, respectively. The Executive Mansion stated the appointment is pending the conclusion of the GAC’s audit.
2024 HIGH: During the course of the 12 months beneath evaluation, the LTA signed an historic one-year licensing settlement with Starlink Liberia LLC, a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The landmark deal will deliver satellite-based web companies to each nook of Liberia, enabling the nation to realize common web protection for the primary time in its historical past. The provisional license will permit LTA to evaluate Starlink’s companies over the following 12 months, setting high quality requirements and making certain client safety as this cutting-edge expertise is rolled out. Starlink’s satellite tv for pc system guarantees to ship high-speed web on to customers, bypassing conventional infrastructure limitations which have left many areas of Liberia with insufficient or no web entry. This effort aligns with the federal government’s broader agenda, outlined within the National ICT Policy, which prioritizes increasing connectivity to all residents, a core goal of President Joseph Boakai’s administration. Acting Chair Kamara, highlighted the importance of this deal in advancing Liberia’s digital future. He described it as a pivotal second that may eternally change how Liberians entry the web.
Also in the course of the 12 months, the LTA transfer to strengthen Liberia’s digital infrastructure and enhance nationwide safety. In collaboration with the National Identification Registry (NIR), the authority signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on October 8, 2024. This settlement is about to reshape the nation’s SIM card registration course of by requiring all cell subscribers to register utilizing a government-issued National Identification Card. This partnership is a vital a part of Liberia’s broader Digital Transformation Initiative, geared toward enhancing safety, digital inclusion, and entry to important companies.
The LTA additionally launched transformative rules that promise to reshape the sector, stimulate native entrepreneurship, and create a extra aggressive enterprise setting. The two rules — Numbering Regulations and the Regulations on Wholesale Access to Telecommunication Networks for the Provision of Value-Added Services (VAS) — are the results of in depth analysis, evaluation, and public session mandated by the LTA Act. The introduction of those rules marks a historic milestone beneath the management of the Acting Board of Commissioners, positioning Liberia’s telecom marketplace for unprecedented development and innovation. The Numbering Regulations is predicted to deliver a structured strategy to the allocation, project, and administration of all telecommunication numbers, together with Short Codes, throughout Liberia.
2024 LOW: The 12 months beneath evaluation was a murky one for the LTA. While President Boakai suspended the earlier chair and commissioners for questionable transactions, his new crew seem like as much as outdated tips. The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has been urgent the president to dismiss the performing chair, Kamara and Dorr Cooper, Inspector General of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, over alleged corruption and violations of the Code of Conduct. CENTAL additionally urged motion in opposition to different officers accused of misconduct and abuse of workplace. Speaking at a information convention in November, CENTAL’s Executive Director, Anderson D. Miamen, cited a General Auditing Commission (GAC) report implicating Mr. Kamara in violations of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) Law throughout his tenure as CEO of TAMMA Corporation. “The GAC audit found that payments totaling L$262,844,500 and US$450,000 were made to TAMMA Corporation and 231 Data Incorporated without adherence to procurement protocols or documentation,” Miamen said, quoting the audit report.
Mr. Miamen expressed concern over the President’s inaction regardless of these findings, noting that Mr. Kamara continues to serve on the LTA in an performing capability. “It is alarming that no public action has been taken against Mr. Kamara. As far as we know, he still enjoys the confidence of the presidency, even though he is accused of mismanaging the very institution he now leads,” Miamen stated. The CENTAL head additionally criticized the extended performing standing of Mr. Kamara and different LTA commissioners, which has endured since April 2024. “This inaction sends the wrong message, particularly given the findings of the GAC audit,” he remarked. Under the present management, shoppers are getting much less knowledge for $1, much less voice for $1 – voice and shoppers say knowledge high quality is horrible. Questions are additionally being raised relating to the digital coaching for 10k younger folks which isn’t applied per mandate – showcasing earlier Boards accomplishments as theirs with out sharing credit score with them – scale back govt sectoral (LRA) tax assortment – sectoral income declining.
GRADE: F
2025 OUTLOOK: Some say the clock is ticking on Kamara amid tons of allegations and governance lapses on the LTA. Will JNB purchase into it within the coming 12 months?
