By Socrates Smythe Saywon
MONROVIA – The Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) has thrown its weight behind employees of the Ministry of Transport, describing their ongoing protest as a legitimate fight for justice and livelihoods. The group alleges that officials within the Boakai administration illegally tampered with the Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LTMI) Agreement, stripping the Ministry of its statutory powers and transferring them to a foreign-owned company.
In a statement issued Tuesday, August 19, 2025, and signed by Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu, STAND said it has uncovered “irrefutable evidence” of fraud in the altered concession agreement. The organization claims that clauses safeguarding the Ministry’s core functions, such as driver licensing, vehicle registration, and motor vehicle offices, were removed and replaced with provisions that empower LTMI and its foreign partner, Techno Brain Global FZE, to assume constitutional duties.
STAND described the move as a betrayal of national sovereignty and an attack on the rights of ordinary Liberian workers. The group argued that the alteration violates an Act of the Legislature, constitutes economic sabotage, and undermines the rule of law.
“The time has come to put a stop to the abuse of Ministry of Transport workers. Enough is enough,” the statement read. STAND called on the Boakai administration to immediately halt the implementation of the altered LTMI Agreement, launch an investigation into those responsible, and restore the Ministry’s legal authority. It also urged the government to abolish excessive fines and taxes that burden taxi drivers, bus operators, motorbike riders, and kehkeh operators.
The advocacy group further appealed to Liberia’s international partners, including the United States, the European Union, ECOWAS, and the United Nations, to intervene and pressure the administration to reverse what it termed “a deliberate dismantling of a vital government institution.”
Meanwhile, in a related development, Justice Minister and Acting Head of the Cabinet, Cllr. Oswald Tweh, along with Deputy Inspector General of Police for Operations, Nelson Freeman, on Monday held a crucial meeting with leaders of the Collaborating Transport Union at the Ministry of Justice. The talks followed a nationwide go-slow by commercial drivers, which paralyzed transport services and stranded thousands of commuters in Montserrado and beyond.
The drivers, who accused security forces of “harsh enforcement measures” and inhumane treatment, suspended their operations in protest. During the meeting, Minister Tweh acknowledged their concerns and assured them of the government’s commitment to a fair and safe environment for all road users. Deputy IGP Freeman pledged ongoing dialogue, stressing that enforcement must be carried out with professionalism and respect.
Both sides agreed to reconvene at the National Police Headquarters on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to draft a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at easing tensions in the transport sector. In the meantime, drivers have agreed to relax their protest and gradually restore public transport, pending further negotiations with the government.
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