Monrovia – Mr. Sekou Dukuly, the managing director of the National Port Authority (NPA), is widely regarded among members of the ruling Unity Party as an advocate of good governance, openness, and transparency.

By Selma Lomax, Webster Clayeh and Jahiem Tumu

Mr. Dukuly often highlights his business success in speeches and printed literature, emphasizing his numerous affiliations and accomplishments. However, two checks obtained by FrontPageAfrica raise questions about his transparency.

Conflict of Interest Concerns

The two checks, one for $38,500 and the other for $15,000, were issued to Labor Minister Cooper Kruah’s Henries, Kruah & Associate Law Firm, totaling $53,000 for “court-related matters.” Legal experts suggest that this action, involving a government employee, violates professional standards.

The funds were compensation for defending the NPA in a case involving 10 employees dismissed by Mr. Dukuly, who had filed for “unlawful dismissals” at the Sixth Judicial Circuit Law Court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia on March 29, 2024.

Mr. Dukuly did not respond to a WhatsApp message or phone call from FrontPageAfrica on Wednesday. He has been accused of unlawfully dismissing some of the workers he met there to create room for partisans of the Unity Party.

Cllr. Kruah has been associated with conflict of interest issues when he served in the Weah-Taylor administration as Minister of Post and Telecommunications. Investigation conducted by The Daylight showed that Kruah held five percent of the shares in Universal Forestry Corporation (UFC), a mining company operating in Nimba County and other parts of the country. According to the firm’s legal document, Before Kruah’s appointment, the company had held a few logging concessions. However, the company began to acquire a flurry of mining licenses after he became the Postmaster General.

Krua was first nominated by President Joseph Boakai as Minister of Justice, but following public outcry over his questionable records in the legal fields, his nomination was withdrawn and he ended up as Minister of Labor.

Unethical Practices of Cllr. Kruah

Before his nomination was withdrawn, an investigation by FrontPageAfrica revealed that Cllr. Kruah was found guilty of unethical practice as a lawyer by the Grievance and Ethics Committee of the Supreme Court of Liberia.

Between 2011 and 2012, Kruah served as a lawyer for the Mano River Agriculture Rehabilitation & Development Corporation (MARDCO) and won a case involving the corporation and Mr. Edmondo Trombetta. According to MARDCO, Kruah received US$108,941.65 on behalf of MARDCO for the proceeds of MARDCO’s rubber from the Republic of Sierra Leone that was sold in Liberia by the civil law court. However, Cllr. Cooper Kruah allegedly diverted US$58,814.08 into his personal account.

MARDCO filed a complaint against Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah to then Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor at the Supreme Court of Liberia on June 24, 2014. The legal proceedings were conducted through the Grievance and Ethics Committee of the Supreme Court, which found Cllr. Kruah guilty of unethical practice and recommended that Chief Justice Korkpor enforce their findings and recommendations. MARDCO claims that Korkpor failed to enforce the judgment due to his personal relationship with Cllr. Kruah. However, Kruah claimed that he paid the money.

Accusations and Counterclaims

Recently, Mr. Dukuly criticized his predecessors for their lack of contributions during a Ministry of Information press briefing, where he presented a symbolic $2 million check to the Government of Liberia as the NPA’s contribution to the General Revenue Account. He claimed that during the last six years under former President George Weah, the NPA contributed $4 million to government revenue.

Mr. Bill Tweahway, who headed the NPA during President Weah’s tenure and is now a Senator of River Cess County, rebuffed Dukuly’s claims, calling them politically motivated and inaccurate.

Twehway’s Response

Senator Twehway urged Mr. Dukuly to focus on his duties rather than attacking his predecessors. He stated that the NPA contributed $3.5 million in just three months during his tenure and a total of $5.5 million in one fiscal year.

Fact-Checking and Verification

Local Voices Liberia, a network countering misinformation, reviewed financial statements published by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. They found that during President Weah’s administration from 2018 to 2023, the NPA contributed $9.5 million to the National Budget, contradicting Dukuly’s claims.

The financial discrepancies and accusations between Mr. Dukuly and his predecessors raise significant concerns about transparency and governance within the NPA. As the controversy unfolds, it highlights the importance of accurate financial reporting and accountability in public administration.

By entrenching tribal loyalties over merit and competence, Dukuly has inadvertently sowed seeds of discord and inefficiency within the institution, jeopardizing its functionality and alienating qualified personnel.

The ramifications of such tribal hegemony at the National Port Authority are far-reaching and profoundly unsettling. Instead of fostering an environment that values professionalism, competence, and dedication, Dukuly’s approach risks perpetuating a system rife with favoritism, nepotism, and inefficacy. This not only compromises the integrity of the institution but also undermines the very foundation of democratic principles.

Moreover, the strategic importance of the National Port Authority as the economic lifeblood of our nation cannot be understated. Any mismanagement or leadership deficiencies within this critical institution have the potential to reverberate across the entire economy, leading to disruptions in trade, commerce, and economic growth.

In the face of these challenges, it is imperative that stakeholders, policymakers, and the public demand greater accountability, transparency, and leadership acumen from Managing Director Sekou Dukuly. The National Port Authority requires a leader who can rise above parochial interests and prioritize the common good, one who can inspire unity, efficiency, and progress within the institution.

As the gateway to our nation’s economic prosperity, the National Port Authority deserves nothing less than visionary and inclusive leadership. It is time for Sekou Dukuly to heed the calls for reform, to transcend tribal hegemony and bad leadership.

Profile:

James Saa Bundoo is an emerging Writer, Agropreneur, USAID-Trained Public Policy Analyst, Politician, Youth Development and Leadership Trainer, Speaker, and Founder of two major Start-ups. He can be reached via jamesbundoo94@gmai.com or +231 770301772.

Monrovia- The National Port Authority of Liberia (NPA) is set to commence the disbursement of live checks to over 2,000 employees and contractors this week.

By Jaheim T. Tumu

Accordingly, the initiative which will impact personnel at the ports of Monrovia, Buchanan in Grand Bassa County, Harper in Maryland County, and Greenville in Sinoe County, is geared towards eliminating non-existent or ghost names from the payrolls to  ensure an accurate and transparent compensation system.

The NPA Management said that the  exercise will verify the legitimacy and accuracy of payroll salaries and confirm that all individuals receiving salaries are bona fide employees of the NPA.

The process, which is expected to last for two months, would ensure the institution identifies opportunities to enhance systems, procedures, and processes, thereby preventing the reactivation of non-legitimate employees on the NPA’s payroll, a statement said.

“The payroll verification process is one of the top priorities of the Management of the National Port Authority of Liberia,” the communication said.

The NPA has also announced the commencement of a comprehensive audit of its ports nationwide by the General Auditing Commission (GAC), which began on May 20, 2024.

The institution emphasized that the audit, which is expected to last 90 days, will cover human resources, financial statements—including balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and notes to the financial statements—and the physical infrastructure of the NPA.

“This audit will span the period from 2019 to 2023, providing insights into the NPA’s financial health and performance,” the communication indicated.

NPA expressed satisfaction with the economic viability at the Port of Buchanan in Grand Bassa County. Accordingly, the management emphasized that since assuming control of Buchanan Port, a little over two months ago, revenue intake has significantly increased due to the implementation of a robust financial management control system.

NPA further emphasized its commitment to transforming the Port of Buchanan into a world-class shipping facility through rehabilitation and expansion with the aim to improve internal controls, financial reporting processes, and governance practices.

The NPA management says it believes that operational inefficiencies identified during the audit will enhance overall effectiveness and help the NPA in achieving its strategic goals.

The institution revealed that they contracted the services of Power Marine to drag two tugboats at the port of Greenville, in Sinoe County.

NPA explained that the two tugboats had been immobilized at the Port for the past four years, stressing that it will cost about USD $40,000  (forty thousand US dollars) to drag the boats from the Greenville Port.

“If it is left to sink into the basin of the water, it will cost over one hundred thousand US dollars to remove them.”

 Adding, “A team of four divers from the Power Marine services, is expected to take 14 days beginning Monday May 27, 2024, to drag the two tugboats from the water. The contract to drag the boats from the Port of Greenville includes to repair, clean, and restore the fenders of the boats.”


Meanwhile, the NPA has resumed the distribution of rice to its employees and contractors as part of their monthly benefits, a practice that had been dormant for the past 10 months.
 
According to the release, all employees, including Senior Management, will receive two bags of rice for equitability and transparency. Previously, Senior Management received six bags of rice as part of their monthly benefits. This move underscores the NPA’s commitment to fairness and employee welfare.

Monrovia – The cost of shipping containers to Liberia is at an all-time high for many Liberians either looking to move home or bring in containers for business. Sekou Dukuly, the new head of the National Port Authority, appointed by President Joseph Boakai last week, says, the dilemma facing scores of Liberians, will be high on his agenda as he assumes command of the port.

By Rodney D. Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com

“I am particularly aware of the challenges and bottlenecks at the NPA. I have shipped things quite too many times, especially my car, personal belongings, and furniture. I know how stressful it was to clear those things from the port,” Dukuly told FrontPageAfrica Monday.

Dukuly, who describes himself as an entrepreneur, says he is aware about the importance of customer service. “When we take care of our customers effectively, they will be happy to do business with us, which will trickle down to the economy. I started work Friday, 2/2/2024. The first order of business is to meet with the management team and then ordinary employees. We will review our system and processes and do what is necessary to streamline our system to make it easier for people to do business with us. I can assure you that there won’t be any business like usual.”

Shipping Cost runs from $2k to 15K.

As Dukuly and his team ponder how to deal with the high cost of container shipping, the issue of duties or tariffs on exports and imports have been largely blamed for shipping costs.

On average, most Liberians pay between US$2,000 – US$15,000 to transport a container from the United States, China, and other countries. Why are the costs of transporting goods so high? Business analysts say, there are always obstacles in the way of trade, and the high cost of transporting goods is one of them.

While the high cost of transporting goods in Africa has improved, some 41 of the 55 African countries have ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area, which facilitates intra-regional trade and promote economic development in the African regions.

While many countries on the continent have implemented dual measures to reduce tariffs and “non-tariff barriers” in order to reduce the cost of transporting goods by ships, Liberia is still lagging behind.

For Dukuly, the key to fixing the existing issues he is inheriting is not only the Freeport of Monrovia. “We have to look at the root causes. Which system is efficient, and which one creates redundancy? When we eliminate these superficial and extra layers that have been created, will our system work well or thrive better? These are the tasks assigned to my team and me to deliver within the next 90 days.”

In Liberia, each container carries an import tax on foreign goods imported into a country levied by Ministry of Finance and the Liberia Revenue Authority.  Globally, every country and even state or province has a different import tax rate, name, and criteria.

There’s also a De minimis or “minimal things” tax on the price threshold before taxes or duties are applied to imports. For example, in Australia, a 10% tax is applied to all transactions above their 1000 AUD de minimis. In Liberia, importers pay seven percent.

Then there is the landing cost which is the total amount charged to ship items to their destination, which combines shipping, taxes, duties, fees, insurance, and the cost of the item. Import tax may be applied only to the product, but sometimes it’s applied to the product, shipping, and other fees.

Headaches for Consumers

All these costs are added headaches on struggling consumers, who barely make profit on their containers once they arrive.

President Boakai stirred a surprise with the appointment of Dukuly. With a reported twelve persons eyeing the post, Dukuly a relative outside emerged as unlikely appointment.

The new Managing Director hails from the Suehn Mecca District in Bomi County and says he grew up right in Monrovia. “I went to Muslim Congress High School on Mechlin Street, and I was a beneficiary of the prestigious J.J. Scholarship Fund. “I competed against some of the best students across the country during my quizzing days and was fortunate to travel to the United States where I earned my undergraduate degree in Accounting and my MBA in entrepreneurship. I worked in Corporate America, but I pride myself as a system builder. Between 2016 and 2020, I built my own companies and created employment for 100s of Liberians and other immigrants in Minnesota, USA.

On how he slipped under the radar to and swept by a sea of people hoping to get this post, Dukuly says: “I am not the loudest in the room. Yes, people may not have seen me on talk shows and giving interviews, but we all played a critical role behind the scenes in the last two years that culminated in the victory of the Unity Party. Like all the silent voters of Liberia, we are pivotal to the electoral success of our leader, President Joseph Nyumai Boakai, Sr. I have been here in Liberia with my family for the last three years. I live in Duarzohn. Nothing mysterious here. I am grateful and honored by the confidence reposed in me by the President, and I intend to do outstanding things at our ports. I encourage you to follow on this journey of doing the Liberian people’s work and restoring the confidence of businesses in our port system.”

Aware of Scrutiny that Comes with Job

While acknowledging that he is a private individual, Dukuly readily admits that public service requires scrutiny. “Some people may be acting out due to a lack of knowledge. People often speculate when they don’t know or have little information. I have lived in Liberia with my family for two-three years. I have a home in Brewerville, a land I bought from the late Rev. Jeremiah Walker more than twenty years ago. I also have a home in Duazohn. I have business interests in Liberia, including supporting mechanized farming in Gbarpolu to help employ Liberians. I have had investors come into the country to explore some of these projects. Agriculture is big on the President’s agenda. I want to make it easy for people to come and invest in our country. Our ports play a critical role in Liberia’s investment climate. Our people deserve better.” 

Since assuming office, Dukuly says his team has begun reviewing the port’s system and processes. “I will review the scorecard and balance of our entity and ensure that I hear from everyone, including our most important people, the ordinary employees. We will form a robust team as we address the issues affecting our immediate customers and the larger business community.” 

On the challenges he foresees, Dukuly says he indulges in a glass-half-full perspective of any challenge. “The challenges are our ports are opportunities awaiting us to do better. We have to change the culture of doing business and restore confidence in our system so that it works for every businessperson regardless of their status in Liberia. Together we can do this.” 

Monrovia – The President of the Republic of Liberia, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has nominated additional officials to positions in government affecting the Ministry of State, National Port Authority, National Investment Commission, Ministry of Defense, as well as the Armed Forces of Liberia, and the Office of the President. 

The nominees include:

1. Madam Mamaka Bility, Minister of State Without Portfolio, Ministry of State

2. Mr. Samuel A. Stevquoah, Minister of State without Portfolio/Special Services, Ministry of State

3. Attorney Cornelia Kruah Togba, Deputy Minister for Administration, Ministry of State

4. Madam Ora Richards, Deputy Minister for Budget and Finance, Ministry of State

5. Mr. Sekou Dukuly, Managing Director, National Port Authority 

6. Mr. James Bernard, Deputy Managing Director for Administration, National Port Authority

7. Mr. Jeff Blibo, Chairman, National Investment Commission

8. Mr. Melvin Sheriff, Executive Director, National Investment Commission

9. Major General Prince C. Johnson, retired and nominated as Minister of the Ministry of Defense 

10. Brigadier General Geraldine George, retired and nominated as Deputy Minister for Operations, Ministry of Defense

11. Major General Daniel D. Ziankahn, nominated as Ambassador-Designate 

12. Col. Davidson T. Forleh, promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and nominated for Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia

13. Col.  Theophilus Dana, nominated as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia

14. Ms. Morie Yaude Nemah, Executive Assistant, Office of the President, Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs

These nominations where applicable, are subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate. 

Meanwhile, the Liberian Leader, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia hereby directs the Ministry of Defense and Chief of Staff to conduct the appropriate procedures consistent with established military protocols.

MONROVIA – A delegation made up of government leadership, heads of agencies, and members of the diplomatic community have taken a tour of the Freeport of Monrovia to observe ongoing dredging works at the Port.

This was to afford the delegation an opportunity to see firsthand, the progress of work on this historic project being embarked upon by the National Port Authority and APM Terminals Liberia.

In September this year, the National Port Authority of Liberia and APM Terminals Liberia after extensive discussion on the need for dredging and widening of the port channels of the Freeport of Monrovia, executed a USD 6 million Dredging Project Financing & Execution Agreement.

This agreement involves APM Terminals Liberia undertaking preliminary engineering studies, procuring, contracting and executing the dredging program.

The project involves the removal of sand sedimentations of around 1 million cubic meters, which will allow for larger vessels to enter the Freeport.

Led by the newly appointed Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA), Hon Diana Nebo, and accompanied by Mr Jonathan Graham, the outgoing Managing Director of APM Terminals Liberia and incoming MD, Mr. Clay Crain, the delegation boarded and sailed the APM Terminals Liberia tug boats to the dredging site.

The various stakeholders expressed satisfaction on the progress of work, underscoring the importance of the dredging exercise to the improvement of operations at the Port and ultimately the Liberian economy.

Minister of Commerce, Hon. Mawine G. Diggs said that the project is in fulfillment of President Weah’s vision to attract more investments into the country which will stimulate economic growth in that it will allow larger import parcel sizes at the Freeport of Monrovia which will directly benefit the import industry in Liberia.

“The Government of Liberia is looking at increasing trade volumes at the Freeport of Monrovia and so this project targeted at allowing entry of much bigger vessels at the Freeport is strategic and will allow us to drastically increase our trade volume.” Hon Mawine Diggs remarked.

For Hon. Diana Nebo, the tour gave her the opportunity to acquaint herself with this project as she settles into her new role as the Managing Director of the NPA. She emphasized that this project fits into her vision of implementing operational and tactical planning to allow major changes in the supply of port services, such as infrastructure investments aimed at increasing port capacity.

“This landmark dredging project is a consequence of a strong partnership between the National Port Authority and APM Terminals Liberia; I am impressed by the progress of work thus far. We are informed that civil works started only this October after the agreement was signed in September, and from what I have seen today, everything being constant, am confident that we will complete this project ahead of time. It is important that we continue to partner as we expand the Freeport of Monrovia, which will help to quickly rejuvenate the economy of Liberia.”

Hon Nebo said. 

Mr Jonathan Graham in a brief remark on the sidelines after the tour thanked the stakeholders for their support and partnership over the years and reiterated APM Terminals Liberia’s commitment to completing the project according to schedule.

“As mentioned when we executed the agreement, this historic project has been driven by the notable partnership between APM Terminals Liberia, the National Port Authority, the Ministries and the government. I want to thank all of our partners for working with us on this project. Like we have all seen and attested to, we are fully committed to the execution of this project which will allow both NPA and APM Terminals Liberia to provide a higher level of service and efficiency for the stakeholders of the Freeport,” Mr Graham remarked.

MONROVIA – The National Port Authority and APM Terminals Liberia have executed a Dredging Project Financing & Execution Agreement under the mandate of the NPA Board of Directors, following extensive discussions and alignment on the need for dredging and widening the port channels of the Freeport of Monrovia.

The agreement which was signed on August 30, 2022 results in the Freeport being able to restore the draft and beam of the harbor channel and approach to the original design levels of 2011.  The restoration of the draft covers the removal of sand sedimentation up to 1,000,000 (One Million) cubic meters.

This will restore the original beam or width of vessels to return to 32 meters and a draft of 12 meters as against the recently reduced allowable beam and a draft of 28m and 9.5 meters respectively. This draft and beam increase is important as it will allow for larger vessels to enter the Freeport, a condition that will lead to larger import parcel sizes. This will directly provide benefits to importers as it will provide a significant offset to the ever-rising cost of vessel leasing per parcel size and ultimately provide inflation reduction to the Liberian consumers.

Upon the NPA Board of Directors approving the program on the 18th of August 2022 and the final agreement being put into place, the NPA Chairman of the Board, Matthew Gueh commented, “Upon reviewing the proposal from APM Terminals Liberia and surveying the situation in the harbor, it was clear something needed to be done urgently.  After consultations with Board Directors and the Honorable Ministers serving on the Board, a decision was made to move forward with the APM Terminals Liberia proposal. The execution of the agreement will not only immediately remedy the current restrictions in the Freeport but also allow for the Freeport to increase the benefit to the business community and all Liberia consumers.”

The momentous agreement is valued at up to USD 6,000,000 and includes the use of global expertise in marine engineering, tidal and ocean current engineers, and one of the leading dredging companies globally.  As part of the agreement, APM Terminals Liberia will execute the preliminary engineering studies, procure, contract and execute the dredging program.  Also, APM Terminals Liberia will pre-fund the entire value of the program through interest-free financing and recover the cost over the next 36 months through deductions in concession fees paid to the NPA.

Managing Director of APM Terminals Liberia Jonathan Graham commented, “This historic agreement is driven by the notable partnership that has been developed between the various Ministries and Government agencies over the periods. This agreement will better allow both NPA and APM Terminals Liberia to provide a higher level of service and efficiency for the stakeholders of Freeport.   We are pleased we were able to work with the various government agencies to ensure all compliance requirements were completed for the NPA Board of Directors to resolve to move forward on our proposal to implement a more sustainable dredging program in Freeport.  I would like to especially thank Chairman Gueh and NPA Board Member Samuel Tweah for their partnership and drive to move our proposal from a concept to reality.”

The dredging program has already begun with the preliminary requirements and mobilization processes and is expected to commence civil works by the start of October and the full program to be completed by the year’s end. 

Also, because of the deeper understanding of the sedimentation process driving the reoccurring need for maintenance dredging, the dredging program will be executed both with a more sustained result and with the benefit of beach restoration north of the Freeport through the ocean sand disposal process and using the natural currents to spread the sand along the coastline.

Monrovia –  Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of the National Port Authority(NPA), Mr. Bill Twehway, his deputies, Assistant managers, including the legal counsel on contempt charges.

Judge Gbeisay issued the arrest order over the officials’ refusal to obey the court citations, writ of summons and court orders served on them relative to a container.

The writ of arrest reads:” You are hereby commanded to arrest the living bodies of Bill Twehway, his deputies, Assistant Managers, including the legal counsel there in defendants charged with Criminal Contempt of Court and forthwith bring him/them before this Honorable Court to answer to the said charges.”

It continues:”The defendants have refused and failed delibrate you to obey citations, writ of summons and court orders served on them, relative to a container, subject of a Litigation before this court, thereby subjecting the court to public ridicule and imoeding its tribunal function; hence this writ of arrest for contempt of court, ordering the said defendants arrested and forthwith bring them before this court to show tangible cause why hey cannot be held in Criminal Contempt.”

Judge Gbeisay’s decision grew out of a complain filed to the court by and through the Swedish Trading Company represented by its agents, John Glaywaseh and Marcus Juah Roberts.

In the complain, the company’s name is(Swedish Trading Company) agents alleged that on the 9th of January 2020, they complained the Auction Committee of the NPA to the Monrovia City  Court Judge Jomah S. Jallah for wrongfully and illegally withholding their 40ft Container marked MRKU-320797, having satisfied all necessary requirements in keeping with law.

During the hearing of the case on the 19th of January, Judge Jallah in open court ruled and ordered the Management of the NPA to turn the 40ft Container over the company(Swedish Trading Company) agents.

But in disregard to the law, the Managemnt of the NPA refused to turn the Container over to the company.

Based on that, the informants filed a summary proceeding against Judge Jallah to the Crinimal Court ‘C’ to show cause why he (Judge Jallah) cannot hold the NPA Management in contempt for failure to respect the court( Monrovia City Court) order.

During the hearing of the Summary proceeding, Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay of Criminal Court C ordered Judge Jomah S. Jallah to summon the Managing Director of the  NPA, Hon. Bill Twehway to deliver the Container on the grounds of the Temple of Justice and release said Container to the informants.

But the Management of the NPA failed and delibrate refused to obey the court orders to turn over the Container.

The failure of the NPA to honor the  court decision has moved Judge Gbeisay to issued the writ of arrest on the charge of Criminal Contempt against the entire Management of the NPA.