The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Richard Nagbe Koon, has constituted a specialized committee to investigate and review matters surrounding the status and occupancy arrangements of the Pan African Plaza building currently occupied by the One United Nations (UN) in Liberia.
The committee is chaired by Hon. Michael Thomas, with Hon. Bernard Blue Benson Jr. serving as Co-Chair. Other members include Hon. Priscilla Cooper, Hon. Prince Toles, and additional lawmakers appointed by the House leadership.
The committee’s establishment follows a communication submitted to Plenary by Grand Gedeh County Electoral District #3 Representative Hon. Jacob Debee, who requested legislative inquiry into the legal and financial arrangements governing the occupancy of the Pan African Plaza by the United Nations.
In his communication titled “Inquiry into the Status of the Pan African Plaza Building Occupied by the One United Nations,” Representative Debee expressed concerns regarding uncertainty over whether the occupancy arrangement is based on a rental agreement or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of Liberia and the United Nations.
Representative Debee requested that Plenary mandate the following actions:
1. If the building is being rented, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) should provide documentary evidence of rental payments made by the United Nations to the Government of Liberia from January 2024 through December 2025.
2. If the occupancy arrangement is based on a Memorandum of Understanding, the relevant government entity responsible for the agreement should submit a copy of the MOU to Plenary for review and record purposes.
The Grand Gedeh lawmaker emphasized that the inquiry is intended to promote transparency and accountability while ensuring that the Government of Liberia derives full benefit from its national assets and agreements with international partners.
The specialized committee has been tasked to conduct a comprehensive review of the matter and report its findings and recommendations to Plenary within one week.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has invited authorities of the Liberia Revenue Authority, Customs Brokers, Commerce Ministry, APM Terminals, GTMS, and Mectech before plenary next Tuesday over allegations surrounding controversial shipping tracking fees imposed on importers nationwide.
It followed a communication from Grand Bassa County District Two Representative, J. Clarence T. Banks, submitted to plenary during Tuesday’s sitting, May 12, 2026, requesting lawmakers investigate alleged financial exploitation affecting Liberian importers and businesses.
Representative Banks said Global Tracking and Maritime Solutions Incorporated was established during former President George Weah’s administration and allegedly imposed excessive charges on importers bringing containers and vehicles into Liberia through shipping vessels.
According to the communication, importers are required paying at least two hundred twenty-five United States dollars obtaining Central Tracking Numbers before containers and goods can legally be loaded onto vessels destined for Liberia from foreign ports.
The Grand Bassa lawmaker further alleged prolonged delays obtaining Central Tracking Numbers caused importers losing goods, paying additional warehouse charges, transportation costs, and missing scheduled shipments, thereby increasing financial burdens on struggling Liberian businesses annually.
Representative Banks maintained the tracking system contributed significantly to rising commodity prices nationwide, describing the arrangement as another tariff burden slowing infrastructure development, while urging invited institutions provide clarity before lawmakers next Tuesday.
The Pan African Plaza is a prominent 10-story office building located on Tubman Boulevard at 1st Street in the Sinkor neighborhood of Monrovia, Liberia. Standing at approximately 44 meters (144 feet) tall, it is widely recognized as one of the tallest building in Liberia.
Originally constructed between 1979 and 1983 through a joint venture financed by Libya, the structure underwent major renovations and now serves as the official One UN House. It serves as the centralized headquarters for all United Nations agencies operating within the country. Historically linked to the Liberian-Libyan Holding Company (LLHC), management later transitioned to the Pan African Real Estate Corporation (PAREC).
