As Liberia pursues an ambitious 37% GDP growth target under President Joseph Boakai’s ARREST Agenda, policymakers and communities are calling for an independent regulatory framework for the country’s railways to guard against safety failures and to ensure the network supports broader economic growth.
President Boakai has responded with executive orders #136 and #153, which direct the creation of a National Rail Authority charged with establishing independent operating standards.
Supporters say the move is intended to separate commercial decision-making from public-safety oversight and to prevent a single private company from holding disproportionate control over the strategic Yekepa–Buchanan rail line.
Proponents argue that a safe, reliable rail system is essential not only for iron-ore exports but also for nurturing adjacent sectors such as agriculture, logistics and general freight.
They say independent standards would promote competition, enforce maintenance requirements and deliver consistent safety performance across concessionaires.
Concerns about leaving too much authority in the hands of one concessionaire have been amplified by the history of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s 20-year concession.
Community leaders and residents in Nimba, Bong and Grand Bassa have repeatedly raised worries over perceived neglect and inadequate maintenance.
Reports of derailments and questions about infrastructure quality during that period are frequently cited by critics as evidence of the risks of the status quo.
Advocates for the National Rail Authority contend that national standards would reduce operational risks by improving coordination between operators and regulators, clarifying responsibilities, and ensuring independent inspections and enforcement.
They also say such a regulatory framework would make it easier to introduce new technologies, alternative operating models and even passenger services, while maintaining safety and reliability.
Economic analysts and investor-relations experts say the credibility that comes with independent oversight could be a positive signal to foreign investors.
Transparent, consistently applied rules, they argue, demonstrate that Liberia is open for business and committed to fair treatment for all operators — a factor that can attract long-term investment beyond extractive industries.
With Liberia poised for its first independent rail operated under a multiuser system, the debate centers on balancing the need for economic expansion with public safety and infrastructure stewardship.
Communities along the rail corridor are keen on see reforms that translate into safer, better-maintained lines that can sustain the country’s broader development goals.
