Published: July 16, 2025
Monrovia – Former Deputy Transport Minister J. Ebenezer Kolliegbo has condemned the Liberian government’s decision to outsource the issuance of driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations to Liberia Traffic Management (LTM), a foreign-controlled company, calling the move opaque, potentially unlawful, and a threat to public accountability.
The government’s transfer of these functions—long held by the Ministry of Transport—to LTM was confirmed last week by the Liberia National Police and is expected to take effect this month. But Kolliegbo, who led key reform efforts during the first term of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, says the arrangement lacks transparency, legal grounding, and public oversight.
“These tasks have been traditionally and legally the responsibility of the Ministry of Transport,” Kolliegbo said in an interview over the weekend. “The lack of transparency surrounding this shift suggests something deeper—and more troubling—may be at play.”
Kolliegbo questioned whether the Ministry of Transport now exists merely for policy drafting, while implementation—particularly of its two most revenue-generating duties—is handed over to an external entity.
“Is its work now limited to policy formulation on paper, while implementation lies in the hands of a private or semi-private body?” he asked. “These are not rhetorical questions. They strike at the core of institutional integrity and public accountability.”
No Bidding, No Law?
Kolliegbo suggested the deal mirrors Liberia’s history of “sweetheart concessions” quietly awarded to politically connected companies, particularly in natural resource sectors. He challenged the government to disclose whether the LTM agreement followed due process, including competitive bidding, legislative approval, and public notification.
“To date, no official explanation addressing the legal framework has been provided,” he said.
Referencing Liberia’s 1972 Vehicle and Traffic Law, which assigns licensing and registration responsibilities to the Motor Vehicle Bureau under the Ministry of Justice, Kolliegbo said the shift to LTM was justified by a reinterpretation of the law earlier this year—without public debate.
He noted that the Ministry of Transport was established in 1987 by an Act of the Legislature to centralize all national transport functions. Under that mandate, he argued, the ministry—not the police or any private contractor—should be responsible for such critical services.
International Best Practices Ignored
Kolliegbo cited international examples—including the United States and Ghana—where civilian agencies manage transportation documentation, while police enforce the law. In contrast, Liberia appears to be placing control of both administration and enforcement into the hands of a private, foreign-linked company.
He also pointed out that Liberia’s own 2011 Transport Master Plan recommended creating an autonomous licensing and registration authority—not outsourcing to private operators.
“In robust democracies, such transfers of public authority typically trigger public hearings, investigative journalism, and legislative scrutiny—none of which have occurred in Liberia,” Kolliegbo noted.
Public Trust at Risk
Kolliegbo warned that the unvetted handover of core government functions risks weakening public institutions and deepening citizen mistrust. He drew parallels to previous concession-style deals in other sectors—such as port operations and public parks—that were dogged by allegations of mismanagement and lack of transparency.
He urged the government to answer several fundamental questions: Who owns LTM? Was the Ministry of Transport consulted? Did the Legislature authorize the move? What legal safeguards will be put in place to prevent abuse or monopoly?
“Until these questions are adequately addressed,” Kolliegbo said, “the trust of Liberians in their institutions will continue to erode—and rightly so.”
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