Monrovia, Liberia – July 28, 2025 – A coalition of Liberia’s leading transport unions has submitted a formal petition to President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, calling for urgent government action on a range of issues affecting the country’s transportation sector.
The Collaborating Transport Unions of Liberia raised serious concerns over a concession agreement involving the Liberia Traffic Management (LTM) company, a foreign entity reportedly engaged in collecting bio-data from vehicle owners and drivers during registration and licensing processes. The unions claim this arrangement poses a national security risk and recommend that the deal be completely cancelled.
“The concession deal with LTM places citizens’ private information at risk and threatens national security,” the petition states.
The transport unions also expressed dissatisfaction with the current traffic fines, which are imposed in U.S. dollars, as stipulated in the Vehicle and Traffic Law passed in 1972. They are advocating for the revision of this law, specifically the fines section, and request that all traffic penalties be paid in Liberian dollars, citing the prevailing economic hardship in the country.
Furthermore, the petition recommends that law enforcement agencies limit the issuance of traffic violation tickets to the following key areas while reforms are underway:
1)Vehicle Registration
2)Driver’s License
3)Insurance
4)Transporting two passengers in the front seat
5)In a bid to improve road safety and transport sector management, the unions called on the government to:
6)Allocate land spaces in all 15 counties for the establishment of transport-related facilities by the unions
7)Mandate annual driver workshops conducted by the Liberia National Police (LNP)
8)Include transport unions in the national budget, through an allotment under the Ministry of Finance
The petition was signed by Prince Gibson, Public Relations Officer of the Collaborating Transport Unions.
Lawmakers Receive Transport Unions’ Petition, Promise Legislative Review
Members of the House of Representatives have acknowledged receipt of a petition from the Collaborating Transport Unions of Liberia, outlining major concerns about the Liberia Traffic Management (LTM) concession deal, traffic fines, and sectoral support.
The petition was formally presented to the Legislature and received on behalf of the House Claims and Petitions Committee, chaired by Montserrado County District #8 Representative Prince A. Toles. Receiving the document was Representative Sekou Kanneh, Chair of the House Executive Committee, who assured the protesters that their concerns would be addressed.
“We also received a petition from the Ministry of Transport regarding the Liberia Traffic Management (LTM), and I can assure you that this matter will not be swept under the carpet,” said Rep. Kanneh.
He was accompanied by Representative Foday Fahnbulleh, Chair of the House Committee on Concessions and Investment. Rep. Fahnbulleh commended the protesters for exercising their constitutional rights peacefully, and expressed appreciation for their orderly conduct during the protest.
The Legislature is expected to review the petition alongside ongoing deliberations around the LTM arrangement and the broader transport reform agenda.
As of press time, the Executive Mansion had not issued a formal response to the petition. The transport unions, however, remain hopeful that the Boakai administration will address their concerns in the interest of public safety, economic relief, and national development.
