In a major legislative breakthrough, the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, concurred with the Senate on two critical pieces of legislation: The Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Decentralization and Modernization Act and An Independent Sea and Inland Ports Act. The bills, now passed into law pending presidential assent, aim to grant full autonomy to Liberia’s sea and inland ports.
The legislation, championed by Senate President Pro Tempore and Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karngar Lawrence, marks a significant shift in the country’s port governance. It is designed to decentralize control, modernize port operations, and establish an independent framework for management and development.
Senator Karngar Lawrence, who introduced the bill in the Liberian Senate, emphasized that the law will prioritize key national interests such as capacity building, employment creation, and a more equitable system of revenue distribution across port operations.
“The passage of this bill is a step toward economic empowerment and regional development,” she said during deliberations during the introduction of the instrument.
With the President’s signature expected in the coming days, the new law is set to transform Liberia’s port sector, fostering growth, enhancing efficiency, and boosting both domestic and international trade.
