The recent move by the Liberian Senate to push a bill intended to grant autonomy to outstation ports operating under the National Port Authority (NPA) has been widely criticized, with some experts describing it as a ‘recipe for chaos.
Some analysts and critics who spoke with Verity News have accused Senate Pro-Temp Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence of politicizing port management in Liberia due to selfish commercial interests geared toward gaining control of Buchanan Port as an economic base for her potential 2029 political ambition.
Verity News research shows that regional competitors such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire have a centralized port system with multiple outstation ports operating under a single port authority in each jurisdiction.
Even after numerous calls and advocacies against an attempt to decentralize activities of Liberian Sea Ports, the Librarian Senate, under the Leadership of Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karngar Lawrence, continues to pursue the passage of the said Bill, which raises concern about her motive.
On Tuesday, October 17, at the height of the Liberian Senate’s Agenda was a report from the Joint Committee on Public Corporation and Judiciary, Human Rights Claims and Petitions on a Bill for “An Act to Create Liberia Sea Port Regulatory Authority and Liberia Sea Port Decentralization.
Without clear reasons, the Liberian Senate could not debate the Joint Committee on Public Corporation and Judiciary, Human Rights Claims and Petitions report on the Bill for “An Act to Create Liberia Sea Port Regulatory Authority and Liberia Sea Port Decentralization.
Experts oppose this latest move by the Liberian Senate, with some describing it as a recipe for chaos. Among the most vocal critics is David F. Williams, former Managing Director of the NPA.
In a strong statement shared with Verity Newspaper, Williams makes a compelling case against the Senate’s proposal, arguing that such a move would be economically counterproductive and contrary to best practices in the global port industry.
“The recommendation by the Liberian Senate to make the outstation ports autonomous should be rejected in its entirety,” Williams states emphatically.
“There is no empirical study to support such a dramatic shift, and it does not align with port industry best practices, whether in the sub-region or globally.”
The former NPA Manager warns that introducing multiple autonomous port authorities in Liberia would lead to chaos, inefficiency, and a fragmentation of services—a scenario that Liberia can ill afford.
“If we were to adopt the Senate’s recommendation,” Williams cautions, “it would create a recipe for chaos and fragmentation, which is both unwarranted and inefficient. There exists no model in the sub-region where ports operate autonomously in such a manner, and for good reason—it simply doesn’t work.”
Other experts have pointed out the risks of granting autonomy to outstation ports.
They argue, “Many ports, especially those in less commercially viable locations, are not financially self-sufficient. Smaller ports would likely face operational and economic shortfalls without the NPA’s financial backing. The NPA currently absorbs liabilities associated with these ports, and autonomy could lead to unsustainable debts and even closure in areas unable to self-fund.”
They claimed that granting autonomy to ports could create a precedent that encourages counties with land borders to seek similar autonomy over border management, potentially undermining national security and control. According to them, this could weaken the state’s unified authority over national infrastructure and security.
“Decentralized management may create vulnerabilities in port operations’ security and regulatory protocols. With different ports following independent management policies, security and oversight could become fragmented, increasing risks related to smuggling, unauthorized entry, and regulatory non-compliance. Autonomous ports might create competitive redundancies rather than collaborative efficiencies, leading to duplication of efforts, underutilization of assets, and inconsistent service standards that could disrupt Liberia’s port system.”
