The House of Representatives has concurred with the Liberian Senate on the passing of an act to grant autonomy to outstation seaports in Liberia. The House decided on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, despite an appeal from the Board of Directors of the National Port Authority (NPA) not to. This decision by the Legislature established what is referred to as an Independent Seaport and Inland Ports Regulatory Authority.
The National Port Authority (NPA) was established by an Act of the National Legislature in 1967 and amended in 1970 as a state-owned corporation to manage, plan, and build all public ports in Liberia.
The decision was taken following reports from the House’s joint committees on Maritime and Ways, Means, Finance, and Budgets, and will be sent to the Executive for passing into law. The bill, introduced by Senate Pro-Tempore and Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee K. Lawrence, highlighted that the law will prioritize key national interests, including capacity building, employment creation, and a more equitable system of revenue distribution across port operations.
The legislation, heralded as a transformative step toward improving the country’s port operations, seeks to decentralize the management of Liberia’s seaports, promote sustainable development, and introduce enhanced oversight mechanisms.
The legislation, when approved by President Joseph N. Boakai, will expand port capacity through critical projects such as dredging, enhance port operations in Sinoe, Maryland, and Grand Bassa Counties, and increase local revenue and employment opportunities, among others.
It can be recalled that the NPA Board of Directors strongly objected to the Senate’s assertion that the inefficiency of certain ports in Liberia is due to the centralization of their operations. The NPA Board termed the assertion as false and misleading, claims by the Legislature that granting port autonomy is geared toward providing jobs to locals in outstation port areas.
According to the Board, over 95% of existing employees at these outstation ports are qualified residents of the counties who are currently employed by the NPA which challenged the Senate’s proposal for increased autonomy to create local job opportunities, the Senate Joint Committee recommended to the President to issue an Executive Order to withdraw the NPA’s operational control over outstation ports contravenes the Act creating the National Port Authority.
