By Festus Poquie
The National Port Authority long described as Liberia’s “gateway to the national economy” is not listed as a revenue contributor in the government’s draft 2026 fiscal budget, despite multiple income streams that observers say could produce more than $20 million a year.
An Oracle News Daily review of the draft budget found the NPA excluded from the revenue section with no accompanying explanation.
Compounding concerns, the $5 million the authority was earmarked to contribute to the current 2025 budget has not been remitted into consolidated government accounts.
NPA communications staff declined to comment and referred inquiries to the Legislature’s Ways, Means and Finance Committee.
On Monday the Senate committee reviewing the draft summoned NPA officials to appear on Tuesday to explain why the authority has been left out of revenue projections and why the $5 million has not been transferred.
Limited public financial transparency
Specific, up-to-date financial records for the NPA are not publicly available online. The authority’s new $550 million, five-year strategic plan (2025–2030) — which emphasizes modernization, strengthened financial management, revising lease agreements to raise revenue, and settling outstanding debts — underlines its apparent revenue capacity.
The plan also proposes a Port Infrastructure Investment Fund that would allocate up to 20% of annual port revenues to development projects.
Yet past financial disclosures and audit findings suggest significant opacity. A General Auditing Commission review covering July 1–December 31, 2021, recorded NPA revenue of $15.1 million for that half-year period, with $10.8 million spent on salaries and administrative costs. The Port of Monrovia accounted for $13.9 million of that revenue, while outposts (Greenville, Buchanan and Harper) contributed $1.9 million.
Other official figures show Liberia earned an estimated $9.1 million from maritime activities in 2024, and $13.7 million in fiscal 2019/2020.
NPA revenue streams include fees under the GTMS agreement, loose cargo handling charges, marine facilities and lease income.
Despite these receipts, the NPA “has never passed audit,” according to current public records, a statement that heightens scrutiny over missing or untraced funds.
Unsettled liabilities and policy implications
The authority’s own documents cite unresolved liabilities, including a roughly $300,000 obligation to the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP).
The proposed five-year strategy lists tackling past debts and improving financial management as priorities — steps stakeholders argue are essential if port revenues are to be reliably captured and used for national development.
Lawmakers and budget analysts point to the discrepancy between the NPA’s revenue potential and its omission from the 2026 revenue schedule as a red flag.
If port revenues are not being remitted, or if internal accounting and lease structures obscure actual receipts, the result could be significant losses to the consolidated fund at a time when Liberia faces pressing fiscal needs.
The Senate’s upcoming hearing is expected to press NPA officials for explanations and documentation of revenue flows.
Budget watchdogs and opposition legislators have called for the publication of detailed, audited NPA accounts and immediate clarification on the $5 million shortfall.
