Liberia’s Minister of Transport Sirleaf Tyler has voiced strong opposition to a deal outsourcing the country’s traffic management operations to a firm identified as Liberia Traffic Management Company (LTMC).
The made its first attempt to control the sector in 2022 and the agreement is now under scrutiny as it threatens to displace over 200 employees within the Ministry.
During a session before the Senate Committee on Transport, chaired by Montserrado County Senator Saah H. Joseph, Minister Tyler raised concerns that the proposed outsourcing would render his department nonfunctional, undermining its fundamental operations as outlined in the Ministry’s founding Act.
“The endorsement of the LTMC deal would not only jeopardize our workforce but also compromise our essential functions,” Tyler stated, expressing his frustrations over Justice Minister Cllr. Oswald Tweh’s directive urging the Ministry to transfer key responsibilities to LTMC.
In response, Minister Tweh defended the agreement, highlighting that it constitutes a legally binding concession that has already been ratified by the Legislature.
“As the government, we have a responsibility to uphold the rule of law concerning concession agreements,” Tweh remarked, suggesting that the decision to either embrace or reject the deal was a matter of legal obligation.
If the agreement proceeds, LTMC would take control of crucial traffic management services, including the issuance of driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations.
The session was abruptly adjourned by Senator Joseph due to the absence of essential documents from the Ministers of Transport and Justice, as well as representatives from LTMC.
Senator Joseph emphasized that these documents are critical for the committee’s investigation into the potential ramifications of the agreement on Liberia’s workforce and transportation system, announcing plans to reschedule the hearing for a later date to gather the necessary information.
