Monrovia, Liberia—Concerns over exorbitant fees and the escalating expense of conducting business at the Freeport of Monrovia have led the Liberian Senate to unanimously decide to look into concession deals involving Medtech, CTN, and APM Terminals. The decision was made in response to a message from Senator Saah Joseph of Montserrado County, who demanded a thorough examination of the agreements, claiming that companies, importers, and port users still have to deal with rising port operating expenses.
Senator Joseph informed the plenary that it is time for the Senate to review these contractual arrangements and urged his colleagues to ascertain whether the agreements are beneficial to the Liberian people. The National Port Authority (NPA), National Bureau of Concessions (NBC), APM Terminals, Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Ministry of Justice, Medtech, and CTN were all summoned before lawmakers on June 10 after the Senate ordered a committee for the hearing.
The benefits Liberia is receiving under the agreements, worries about numerous fees and charges, potential service duplication, and whether or not such contracts should require legislative approval are all scheduled to be examined by senators during the meeting. As senators look for answers for expenses that continue to affect companies, importers, and consumers nationwide, the probe represents a major Senate assessment of important port-related agreements.
