Published: August 15, 2025
MONROVIA – Aggrieved employees of Liberia’s Ministry of Transport held a peaceful protest in Monrovia on Thursday, demanding that the United States government impose targeted sanctions on several high-ranking Liberian officials over their alleged involvement in the controversial Liberia Traffic Management concession.
The protesters petitioned the U.S. Embassy near Monrovia—through the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor—to investigate and sanction Inspector General of Police Gregory O.W. Coleman, Justice Minister Cllr. Oswald Tweh, Montserrado County Senator Saah Joseph, Grand Gedeh County Senator Zoe Emmanuel Pennue, and Montserrado County District 17 Representative Bernard Blue Benson.
In their petition, copies of which were shared with the media after no embassy official was available to receive it, the employees claimed that the officials “played central roles in the negotiation and approval” of the deal with Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LMTI).
“We bring to your attention the alleged involvement of several senior Liberian government officials in facilitating this concession, which we believe poses significant security risks and economic harm to the Liberian people,” the petition read, signed by Africanous M. Fahnbulleh, the Ministry’s director of inspectorate.
The employees claimed they have documentary evidence linking the concessionaire to extremist networks, including Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda, through its leadership, which they alleged is connected to a rebel organization.
The workers argued that previous presidents, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Weah, had both rejected similar arrangements due to national security concerns, and they urged President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to do the same.
“In light of these concerns, we respectfully recommend that the individuals listed above be considered for targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act,” the petition stated.
The LMTI concession, signed by the Boakai administration earlier this year, has triggered multiple protests and widespread public criticism. Thursday’s demonstrators carried placards urging the president and the U.S. Embassy to terminate the agreement, insisting it is neither in the ministry’s nor the Liberian people’s interest.
Discussion about this post