CAPITAL HILL, Monrovia – Representatives Thomas A. Goshua II (District #5, Grand Bassa County) has called on the House to invite the heads of Ministry of Transport, the Liberia National Police and Liberia Traffic Management Company in the wake of a reported disagreement over the issuance of driver licenses, license plates and other related functions.
Rep. Goshua informed plenary in a communication that he has followed discussions in the public about an attempt to usurp the functions of the Ministry of Transport by outsourcing its major responsibilities: the issuance of driver’s licenses, license plates, traffic lights maintenance and regulation, as well as other essential related functions that fall under the Transport Ministry, to the Liberia Traffic Management (LTM), a private company.
According to him, the situation has created a stalemate between the parties, and warned if nothing is done about it now, it may disrupt government’s domestic revenue generation.
“Speaker Chambers, if care is not taken to resolve the impasse between these two government institutions and the private owned company, it may potentially undermined domestic revenue. Which will have an adverse impact on development,” he cautioned.
He continued: “In view of the foregoing, I advise that Plenary invites the three parties to explain the origin of the contractual agreement between the government of Liberia and the Liberia Traffic Management – how such is lawfully not conflicting the act the established the ministry Transport, as well as redefined the role of the Liberia National Police in this entire situation.”
According to him the Monrovia City Parking collects money from individuals and issued tickets that carries security or safety of vehicles lies squarely with the owners not them.
In a brief floor discussion the Rep. Goshua’s request, Rep. Clarence Massaquoi (District #3, Lofa County) called for the inclusion of Monrovia City Parking management to appear before plenary as well since the entity also collects money and issues tickets to vehicle owners for parking.
Meanwhile, the plenary, in a majority vote, mandated its Committees on Contracts, Transport and Judiciary to review their colleague request and launch a preliminary investigation and report with a set of recommendation (s) within two weeks.
The Government of Liberia and LTM signed a concession agreement in April 2019, just over a year into the George Weah-led government.
President Weah, at that time hailed the outcome of the partnership between his administration and the LTM as a major booster to the police which would go a long way to enhance public safety and traffic management.
However, the agreement continues to be rocked by series of controversies. In August 2020, LTM began raising red flags after the Ministry of Transport began awarding Private Partnership agreements (PPP) with another company, the Modern Development & Management Corporation (MDMC) outside the scope of the LTM-GOL agreement which according to LTM was in violation of the concession amounting to default of the agreement.
All this amid an opinion from the Ministry of Justice in 2017 which concluded that, “Under the laws of the Republic of Liberia, the Ministry of Transport has no legal authority to issue driver’s license and vehicle license plates. The act creating the MOT does not grant unto it such authority, beyond setting policy for road transportation.”
Title 38 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law expressly provides that the Minister of Justice has the authority to issue driver’s license and other documents relating to the operation of vehicles in the country. “Because the Liberia National Police, the entity responsible for enforcing the Vehicle and Traffic laws of Liberia and it is under the direct supervision of the Minister of Justice, a Motor Vehicle Division was established with the LNP. This Division has been in existence for over thirty years, and has been enforcing the Vehicle and Traffic laws, including but not limited to issuing driver’s license, vehicle license plates, conducting vehicle inspection to ensure road worthiness.”