By Jessica Cox
Liberia – A growing controversy surrounding the Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LTMI) agreement has sparked strong condemnation from the political advocacy group Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), which is demanding swift government action to reverse what it describes as a fraudulent alteration of a national contract.
STAND, in a statement released Tuesday, expressed solidarity with protesting employees of the Ministry of Transport, who have decried the transfer of key government responsibilities to a foreign-owned firm. According to the group, changes were unlawfully made to the LTMI concession agreement, stripping the Ministry of its legal authority and placing it in the hands of LTMI, operated by Techno Brain Global FZE
“This is not just an administrative issue it is a serious breach of national trust,” said STAND Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr. “We are looking at a case of criminal tampering that undermines Liberia’s sovereignty and threatens the livelihoods of public workers.”
The original agreement, passed by the Liberian Legislature in December 2018, explicitly maintained the Ministry of Transport’s control over vital operations such as vehicle registration, driver licensing, and management of motor vehicle offices. Section 3.1(v) of the approved version specifically prohibits the transfer of these duties under the concession.
However, STAND alleges that the agreement currently being enforced contains unauthorized amendments particularly a rewritten Section 3.1(v)hat grant LTMI sweeping authority over those very functions, in direct contradiction to the law passed by lawmakers.
“This kind of manipulation is not only unconstitutional’s a calculated move to disenfranchise Liberian workers and hand over public authority to foreign interests,” STAND said in its release
STAND has laid out a three-pronged appeal to President Joseph Boakai, calling for:
1. The immediate suspension of the disputed LTMI contract and reinstatement of the Ministry’s statutory responsibilities.
2. A thorough investigation to identify all officials and third parties involved in altering the agreement, followed by appropriate legal action.
3. A review of the original 2018 agreement, to reaffirm it as the only legally binding version if found to be in the state’s interest.
In addition, STAND is pushing for the elimination of what it describes as punitive fines and unjust levies on everyday transport operators, including taxi drivers, bus operators, and motorcycle riders.
The group argues that the situation has broader implications for Liberia’s legal integrity and economic stability. “This isn’t merely a dispute over a concession it’s an attack on the rule of law and a form of economic sabotage,” the statement added.
STAND also appealed to Liberia’s international partners, including the United States, the European Union, ECOWAS, and the United Nations, to monitor the situation and engage diplomatically with the Boakai administration to prevent what it described as the erosion of democratic governance.
The organization reiterated its full support for the Ministry of Transport workers and pledged to continue advocating for justice and accountability.
“The ongoing dismantling of a vital public institution for the benefit of a few must end,” Morlu declared. “Enough is enough.”
