Employees of the Ministry of Transport (MOT) are continuing their protest actions following the government’s decision to transfer the issuance of driver’s license and vehicle registration to a foreign service provider, Liberia Traffic Management (LTM), a function previously carried out by the Ministry. The protesters claimed that the original agreement document signed by former President George Weah was tampered with.
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, workers gathered to voice their concerns over the government’s choice to remove a significant function from the Ministry of Transport and delegate it to the private Lebanese company. The protesters explain that the transfer of the ministry’s function to a private company will lead the unemployment of approximately 200 Liberians, who were actively engaged in different departments within the motor and traffic division at the Ministry of Transport.
Marilyn Smith, the director of training and development, who is also the spokesperson for the aggrieved workers, stated that since their initial protest and the submission of a petition to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Richard Nagbe Koon, there has been no response.
Madam Smith pointed out that Liberia is setting a precedent as the first country to outsource the issuance of driver’s license, plates, and vehicle registration to a concession company, which she believes has implications for national security. “We have a clear point to make. The government says the 265 employees should go to work because their jobs are not at risk. However, we are saying no to the government. We cannot leave our homes just to sit idly and collect salaries at the end of the month. This is not the reason we pursued education. We are protesting because this deal is illegal. You cannot invoke the 1972 Act to grant a concession agreement to a company. If you wish to use any legal framework, it should have been the 1986 Act, which would have allowed the Ministry of Transport to participate in negotiations. Instead, the Ministry has been excluded from the agreement. The government of Liberia has effectively declared the Ministry of Transport ‘Rest in Peace’, and we are here to assert that the Ministry is not dead,” she told journalists.
Smith added that President Joseph Boakai urged Liberians to love, think, and build Liberia, and now is the time for him to act on those words by addressing the concerns of over 200 citizens. She noted that they will continue their protest until the Liberian leader listens to their grievances. “The Ministry of Transport generates around US$9.1 million annually, while the Lebanese company awarded the contract will only contribute US$1.5 million to Liberia. Over a 25-year period, the Lebanese company (LTM) is anticipated to contribute US$40 million to the government, while the Ministry of Transport is projected to generate US$225 million during the same timeframe,” Spokeswoman Smith stated.
The protesters believe that the document signed by President Boakai, which granted the Liberia Traffic Management the authority to issue licenses, is different from the original document that was signed by former President George Manneh Weah. Although the protesters fell short of calling names but claim that the agreement document was maliciously tampered with by unscrupulous individuals for selfish benefits, misleading President Boakai.
