Monrovia, Liberiaβ President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has announced the establishment of the Yellow Machines Board of Authority (YMBOA), appointing former Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai as Executive Chairperson of its Coordinating Committee.
The establishment of the Board comes in advance of the arrival in Liberia of the first batch of the much talked about 285 yellow machines secured by the Government of Liberia in China for massive road and other infrastructure developments in Liberia.
The Board comprises the following:
Honorable Brownie J. Samukai Executive Chairperson
Ministry of Public Works Member
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning Member
Ministry of National Defense Member
Ministry of Local Government Member
General Services Agency (GSA) Member
A member of the Special Presidential Project Coordinating Committee (SPPCC) will serve as Secretary to the Board
The mandate of the YMBOA is primarily to oversee the development of a rigorous policy and management framework for the efficient maintenance and utilization of the yellow machines. It shall serve as the central authority for the receipt, accountability, deployment, efficient cost management, operations, storage and maintenance of the yellow machines. The YMBOA shall serve as the convening Board of Authority for the utilization of the yellow machines.
The President also constituted the Special Presidential Project Coordinating Committee (SPPCC), of which former Liberian Defense Minister Samukai is named Executive Chairperson or National Coordinator. The SPPCC has the following composition:
Honorable Brownie J. Samukkai National Coordinator
Honorable Roger S.W.Y. Domah Deputy Coordinator for Administration
Honorable St. Jerome Larbelee Deputy Coordinator for Operations/Technical Services
Honorable Emmanuel Monlue Assistant Coordinator/Policy & General Services
Honorable Ibrahim R. Kiazolu Comptroller
A support staff team will be assembled to serve the Coordinating Committee.
The SPPCC, under the guidance of the YMBOA, has the mandate to strategically manage, coordinate, maintain and operate the effective utilization of the yellow machines as a Special Presidential Project. The SPPCC shall also coordinate with all statutory agencies of government that are constituent members of the Board.
A cardinal responsibility of the SPPCC is to prepare and submit to the YMBOA the National Deployment Plan for approval and to implement the approved Plan while reporting monthly on all activities and status of the equipment. The Committee is under specific mandate to operate under a “Maintenance-First” regime to maximize useful life and value-for money of the machines.
It can be recalled that early last month, Honorable Prince Tambah, Deputy Minister of Public Affairs for Technical Services, announced while in China that the first batch of the 285 yellow machines was already been loaded onto a ship destined for Liberia, with the expected time of arrival in Monrovia sometime in late March 2026. Other shipments were also lined up to take off for Liberia.
The arrival of these earth moving equipment and other assortment of machines will mark a remarkable turning point in this Administrationβs quest for impactful infrastructural transformation in the country.
