Capitol Hill, Monrovia – Tensions escalated at the Legislature on Tuesday as aggrieved employees of the Ministry of Transport (MOT), joined by members of transport unions, threatened to arrest Bong County District #2 Representative James Kolleh, accusing him of ordering the detention of their director.
One of the protesters alleged that Rep. Kolleh instructed the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives to arrest the MOT director during a heated session. The directive, according to sources within the protest group, drew strong objections from some lawmakers who demanded the immediate release of the director.
“We are here in peaceful protest, and now our director is being arrested without any legal basis. If Representative Kolleh continues this abuse of power, we will take action, including effecting a citizen’s arrest,” said one of the angry protesters.
The protesters are part of a larger demonstration calling for a review of the controversial traffic management agreement between the Ministry of Transport and the Liberia Traffic Management (LTM) company. They claim the deal has led to unfair labor practices and unwarranted penalties against drivers and MOT employees.
Despite mounting pressure, Rep. Kolleh has not publicly commented on the allegations as of press time. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the MOT-LTM agreement following growing public outcry.
