Capitol Building, Monrovia– Gathered in huge numbers early Tuesday before regular sittings of both chambers of the Liberian Legislature, a group of business owners and importers decried frustration in doing business in Liberia.
The business owners, predominately women, under the banner China Business Women United with One Voice and the Consortium of Liberia Importers, presented urgent petition to both chambers of the Legislature to demand urgent intervention over severe shipping delays and mounting port bottlenecks.
Similar petition was also presented to the National Port Authority (NPA), as the group, dressed in dominant white, proceeded to the “Gateway of the nation’s economy.”
Timeline And Unfair Fees
Reading the petition on behalf of the business community, advocate Sriya Musu Momolu warned that prolonged shipping timelines and unfair fees have pushed and continues to push local enterprises to the brink of total collapse.
In their petition, the consortium stressed that cargo shipments originating from Asia, specifically China, now take six to seven months to reach the Freeport of Monrovia.
“We, the China Business Women United With One Voice/Consortium Of Liberia Importers and commercial stakeholders of Liberia, submit this urgent petition with deep frustration over the catastrophic delays in receiving imported cargo particularly shipments originating from Asia and China-and the extreme operational bottlenecks caused by major shipping lines, most especially Mask Line,” reads the petition.
The Risk That Comes Along
With the heavy reliance of loans from commercial banks, they fear that their personal homes and properties might be lost due to the increasing interest rate caused by delays.
The pointed out that the extended transit timelines severely continue to hinder their ability to service debts or turn over capital.
Momolu emphasized that businesses are collapsing, investments are trapped, and families are suffering under the weight of the current crisis.
Arbitrary Expiration of Delivery Orders (DOS)
Due to systemic bottlenecks at port clearance and delays caused by major shipping lines like Mask Line, the petitioners alarmed that Delivery Orders (DOS) arbitrarily gets expired before cargo can be retrieved.
“Business owners are then forced to pay costly renewal fees, administrative surcharges, and penalizing demurrage and detention fees for delays completely beyond their control. Enough is enough; this must stop,” the petition furthers.
This, according to them, they (business owners) are being forced to pay costly renewal fees, administrative surcharges, and penalizing demurrage charges for delays entirely beyond their control.
Double Taxation & Financial Distress
While ther capital remains trapped at sea or stuck at the port, the cried out that loan interest continues to accumulate, while at the same time expected to meet quarterly tax obligations to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), pay office rents, and settle employee salaries.
Liberians Pushed Out Of Business
The petitioners also lamented how local entrepreneurs are being pushed out of business by foreign traders who bypass regulatory frameworks to retail directly in domestic markets.
The way forward
To prevent widespread business closures and economic destabilization, the consortium outlined six-count demand for government action.
Outlined in their counts/demands, the business operators called for a formal legislative inquiry into major shipping lines regarding transit delays and surcharge structures.
They also want a government mandate that compels shipping lines and port terminal operators to waive re-issuance fees and demurrage charges on expired Delivery Orders.
The group is also seeking mandatory arrival timelines for maritime carriers, streamlined container clearance at the Freeport of Monrovia to eliminate bureaucratic red tape, strict enforcement of the Liberianization Policy to protect local small and medium-sized enterprises from unfair foreign retail competition, and the establishment of long term national logistics policies.
Among other things, the group requested an immediate formal audience with the leadership of the Liberian Senate, the House of Representatives, and the management of the National Port Authority to present their grievances and secure actionable solutions.
Commitment From Chairman On Claims And Petition, Rep. Toles
Receiving the petition on behalf of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the House Committee on Claims and Petition, Montserrado County Electoral District #8 Representative, Prince Toles committed to bringing the women’s grievances before his legislative colleagues for prompt redress.
Rep. Toles, a lawmaker, who comes from the business sector, stated that the issues raised by the business community are deeply concerning to all stakeholders, making swift legislative and administrative intervention critical.
House Holds Emergency Session On Plight On Business Community
On the heel of the latest petition and issues already raised before the House appertaining the delays, huge taxes paid on goods and services at the National Port Authority, Plenary voted to summon key stakeholders in the country’s port management to a specialized hearing scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026.
The hearing is intended to address growing concerns raised by the protesting businesswomen over alleged excessive port charges and prolonged shipping delays, which they say are severely affecting their businesses.
Among those summoned are the Freeport of Monrovia, the National Port Authority (NPA), the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, and the Liberia Business Association (LIBA), Medtech Scientific Limited — the company contracted by Government of Liberia (GoL) to handle Pre-shipment Inspection and Destination Inspection and Cargo Tracking Note (CTN), alongside other key stakeholders in the port sector.
During the protest, the women accused port operators, particularly APM Terminals and GTMS, of imposing unreasonable charges and contributing to lengthy delays in the clearance and delivery of goods.
They warned that the alleged practices are placing significant financial pressure on their businesses, threatening their operations and livelihoods.
The November 6 hearing is expected to provide lawmakers an opportunity to engage port authorities, operators, and business representatives on the complaints and seek possible solutions to the challenges confronting the business community.
See more Liberia News Network stories in Google Search by adding LNN as one of your Preferred Sources.
★ Add LNN as a Preferred Source