– Bishop Brown pleads with Boakai for Transport workers
Bishop Kortu Brown of the New Water in the Desert Apostolic Church is appealing to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to reconsider the decision to award the transport management contract to a non-Liberian company that is set to take jobs from employees of the Ministry of Transport.
By Naneka A. Hoffman
Monrovia, Liberia; July 31, 2025 – A former president of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) Bishop Kortu Brown, has called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to urgently intervene in the ongoing labor standoff at the Ministry of Transport, where nearly 300 workers face dismissal amid growing concerns over a controversial contract awarded to a non-Liberian company.
Speaking on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at his Brewerville residence, Bishop Brown said the workers have persistently appealed to authorities to halt the outsourcing of key responsibilities, fearing mass job losses and undermining of Liberian interests.
“We have watched over the past few days as these workers have pleaded for government intervention to no avail,” Bishop Brown said. “We commend the Liberian Senate for siding with the workers and calling for the suspension and review of the contract.”
He noted that the situation came at a critical moment, when Liberians observed a national day of fasting and prayer on Wednesday, July 30. Drawing on scripture, he highlighted the spiritual duty of national leaders to govern with compassion and justice.
“According to Isaiah 58:6–7, God desires a fast that lifts the burdens of the oppressed and addresses the needs of the poor,” he said. “This includes letting the oppressed go free, sharing with the hungry, and clothing those in need. That’s the kind of fast that draws God’s attention, not merely abstaining from food or staying all day in church”, he said.
Bishop Brown urged that the plight of employees at the Transport Ministry should be seen through a lens of justice and mercy.
“These are also God’s children. Let us remove the chains of oppression placed on them,” he said, and added: “No foreign company, not even the Liberia Transport Management, should be prioritized over Liberians.”
He directly appealed to President Boakai, saying, “I call on you to kindly and speedily address the plight of these workers, as we fast and pray for our nation. We can only lift Liberia if we lift Liberians.” Editing by Jonathan Browne
