Published: October 17, 2025
CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – Grand Kru County Senator Albert T. Chie has disclosed that discussion on two of Liberia’s most controversial infrastructure concessions, the Elton and Ebomaf deals, have been reignited and formally communicated to the office of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Senator Chie, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Works and Rural Development, made the revelation Thursday, October 16, during regular session, reviving debate over the legality and transparency of the multi-million-dollar contracts initially approved under former President George Weah’s administration but later rejected by the Legislature.
Liberia’s Troubled Concession Legacy
Liberia continues to wrestle with a history of opaque natural-resource and infrastructure agreements that critics say were passed without proper oversight, often in violation of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) Act. Many of these concessions — numbering more than 60 during the Weah era — were characterized by conflicts of interest, excessive tax incentives, and little to no benefit for citizens.
In 2018, then-President Weah ordered a review of several existing deals, including those with Dangote Cement and Nimba Rubber Inc., after irregularities were discovered. Yet, the Elton and Ebomaf concessions emerged soon after, drawing national and international scrutiny.
The Elton and Ebomaf Controversies
The Elton deal, valued at about US$536 million, involved Eton Finance and MAEIL Construction Liberia Ltd. Critics argued it was approved without a competitive bidding process, in breach of the PPCC Act. Moreover, Eton, the financier, was allegedly connected to MAEIL, the contractor, creating a conflict of interest that blurred the line between lender and beneficiary.
The Ebomaf agreement, reportedly worth US$420 million, was signed with a Burkinabe-owned company, EBOMAF, amid speculation that its approval followed the gift of a private jet to President Weah from the company’s owner. Civil society organizations and opposition figures condemned the deal as ethically compromised and procedurally defective.
“The newest revelation by Senator Chie that the concessions have contacted the government to be revitalized might have validated the ‘illegal’ passage of the concessions under the Weah-Taylor administration,” one legislative observer remarked following Chie’s disclosure.
Senator Chie told his colleagues, “There is information also that Elton and Ebomaf Concessions have contacted the government to revitalize concessions, so all those discussions are going on.”
Ongoing Reviews and New Infrastructure Plans
Senator Chie further revealed that the Boakai administration is reviewing key road concessions, including 255 kilometers of roadworks in Liberia’s western and northwestern corridors.
“From St. Paul Bridge to Clay Junction, from Clay Junction to Bo Waterside, from Madina to Robertsport, and from Clay Junction to Tubman,” Chie stated, adding that discussions are ongoing to extend the road network from Brewerville to Bopolu.
He also disclosed a proposed concession for legislative consideration to connect parts of Grand Gedeh County to the Port of Greenville, intended to facilitate access to Putu Mountain iron ore deposits, the Sapo National Park, and other economic activities.
Inside the “Yellow Machine” Saga
Addressing the long-running “Yellow Machine” controversy — involving heavy-duty road construction equipment reportedly purchased through opaque procedures — Senator Chie said the government had invited eight companies to participate in a restricted competitive bidding process.
Of the eight, three firms submitted bids, and Ever Green Import and Export Liberia Corporation was selected as the winning bidder at a contract value of US$21.646 million.
“Based on that submission, one company identified as Ever Green Import and Export Liberia Corporation was awarded the contract valued at nearly US$21.6 million,” Chie revealed. “After government’s final negotiations, formal green light will be given for the yellow machine deal execution.”
Brief Background: The Yellow Machine Controversy
The “yellow machines” refer to a fleet of road-building equipment — including excavators, bulldozers, and graders — that became a lightning rod for public criticism in early 2024. The controversy erupted after reports alleged that the equipment was procured without competitive bidding and that payments were processed without legislative appropriation.
Civil society groups and opposition lawmakers questioned the transparency of the transaction, arguing that the deal sidestepped the PPCC’s legal requirements and lacked value-for-money assessments. The Boakai administration later announced a review of the process to ensure compliance with procurement laws and fiscal accountability.
Senator Chie’s disclosures — reviving two of Liberia’s most criticized concession deals and confirming progress on the yellow machine contract — have once again thrust the Senate into the center of national debate over transparency, accountability, and the integrity of public contracting.
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