President Joseph NyumaBoakai has signed into law the Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Decentralization and Modernization Act, a move that could fundamentally alter the governance and administration of Liberia’s major sea and inland ports, according to a source within the Executive Mansion.
The reported signing, however, has yet to be publicly confirmed by the Executive Mansion, leaving questions over when and how the new framework will take effect.
If confirmed, the law would end the National Port Authority’s longstanding centralized control over Liberia’s major ports and significantly redefine the powers of NPA Managing Director Sekou A. M. Dukuly.
The port decentralization debate has been unfolding for nearly two years. In 2024, the Liberian Senate began advancing legislation aimed at restructuring the port sector and creating a separate regulatory framework.
The measure was introduced by Grand Bassa County Senator and Senate President Pro-Tempore, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, while legislative records also identify Margibi County Senator, J. Emmanuel Nuquay, playing a pivotal role in sponsoring the measure on the Senate floor in October 2024.
In November 2024, the Senate passed legislation seeking to establish an independent Sea and Inland Ports Regulatory Authority, arguing that a new structure was necessary to strengthen regulation, improve accountability and promote the sustainable development of Liberia’s ports.
The legislation subsequently moved to the House of Representatives, which on June 24, 2025, concurred with the Senate on the Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Decentralization and Modernization Act and a companion regulatory measure.
However, instead of immediately signing the bills, President Boakai vetoed them in July 2025, citing concerns over legal inconsistencies, institutional overlaps and the relationship between the proposed regulatory authority and the Liberia Maritime Authority.
The President’s objections reportedly centered largely on the need for clarity in the proposed institutional arrangement.
Accordingly, he warned that creating autonomous ports without a clearly defined regulatory framework could produce overlapping responsibilities and institutional confusion.
The veto, however, failed to settle the matter. In January 2026, the Senate again passed the port decentralization legislation despite the President’s earlier objections.
The revised framework proposed dismantling the centralized NPA structure and establishing autonomous ports in Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville and Harper, alongside a new regulatory authority.
At a later stage, lawmakers requested that the legislation be returned for further review and revision. President Boakai agreed, giving the Legislature an opportunity to revisit the controversial provisions.
By July 2026, the process had advanced again, with the Senate publicly acknowledging the House’s concurrence on the revised port legislation.
If the reported presidential signing is confirmed, the most immediate question could be what happens to the authority and responsibilities of the NPA Managing Director.
Information from a source familiar with the proposed transition indicates that Dukuly could have 80 days to transition from Managing Director of the National Port Authority to Managing Director of the Freeport of Monrovia.
Such a transition would represent a significant reduction in the scope of the NPA Managing Director’s authority.
Rather than exercising centralized control over Liberia’s port network, the position would become primarily focused on the Freeport of Monrovia.
Under the proposed decentralized arrangement, ports outside Monrovia would operate under autonomous management structures and fall within the oversight of the proposed Port Regulatory Authority rather than reporting directly to the NPA Managing Director.
Supporters of decentralization argue that the reform could correct a long-standing imbalance in Liberia’s port administration by giving Buchanan, Greenville, Harper and other ports greater authority to make decisions based on local economic needs.
They have contended that greater autonomy could attract investment, create employment and ensure that economic opportunities generated by ports are distributed beyond Monrovia.
But the proposed reform also faces serious questions. Critics have raised concerns about whether smaller ports possess the financial resources, technical capacity and institutional infrastructure required to operate independently.
There are also concerns that breaking up the centralized structure could create coordination problems, particularly in areas involving national maritime security, customs, revenue collection, infrastructure development and broader port policy.
The controversy is therefore not simply about changing who manages Liberia’s ports. It involves the redistribution of authority over some of the country’s most strategically important economic assets and could determine how port revenues, investments and development opportunities are managed for years to come.
For now, the lack of a publicly released presidential signing announcement means key details remain unverified, including the effective date, transition arrangements and the precise powers to be exercised by the proposed regulatory authority and autonomous ports.
If the reported signing is formally confirmed and implemented, President Boakai’s decision could mark one of the most significant institutional transformations in Liberia’s maritime sector in decades.
While also opening a new chapter of debate over whether decentralization will deliver greater efficiency and accountability or simply replace one set of institutional challenges with another
