Liberia’s port modernization agenda took center stage this week as the Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA), Hon. Sekou A. M. Dukuly, engaged European partners at the Liberia–European Union Business Conference in Antwerp.
On the margins of the conference, Dukuly and his delegation held high-level discussions with senior officials of Port of Antwerp International, drawing on the institutional expertise of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, one of Europe’s most technologically advanced and integrated port systems.
The talks focused on governance models, operational efficiency, phased infrastructure rehabilitation and technical capacity development — areas the NPA considers central to restructuring Liberia’s maritime sector.
Dukuly emphasized that Liberia’s ports — the Freeport of Monrovia, the Port of Buchanan and the Port of Greenville — are critical economic drivers rather than peripheral assets.
“Cargo throughput influences food prices. Vessel turnaround affects industrial supply chains. Concession discipline shapes investor confidence,” Dukuly said during the engagement. “We are not pursuing cosmetic reform. We are pursuing structured transformation — phased, measurable and financially disciplined.”
According to the NPA, the reform framework rests on five strategic priorities: infrastructure modernization aligned with market demand; strengthened concession oversight; digital systems integration; operational benchmarking; and professional capacity building for Liberian port personnel.
Central to the discussions was the development of a realistic, long-term master plan for the Freeport of Monrovia, aligned with commercial growth projections. Dukuly also stressed the need for institutional reinforcement to enhance transparency and regulatory clarity, alongside meaningful skills transfer to ensure sustained local expertise.
While expressing openness to partnership models— including technical advisory arrangements — the NPA Managing Director underscored that governance integrity remains non-negotiable, particularly where advisory services intersect with investment interests. Engagements, he noted, must be guided by clearly defined scopes, performance benchmarks and measurable deliverables.
The NPA’s participation in the Liberia–EU Business Conference signals what officials describe as a deliberate outward-facing reform posture — one aimed at integrating international best practices into Liberia’s national development strategy.
In Antwerp, the message was direct: Liberia’s maritime gateways are entering a new era —strategic, accountable and results-driven.
