By Amos Harris
The National Polit-Bureau of Liberia (NPBL) has called for the complete cancellation of the Resident Permit Digitization Agreement between the Government of Liberia and Contec Global Liberia Limited. The civil society organization cited grave concerns regarding national sovereignty, immigration security, public revenue loss, and a lack of transparency in the management of the country’s border and resident immigration systems.
The NPBL’s National Chairman, Victor L. Balo, sharply criticized the administration of former President George Manneh Weah for agreeing, arguing that its reported financial terms require urgent public scrutiny and full accountability.
The NPBL raised strong objections to the reported revenue-sharing arrangement, under which the Liberian government receives 40 percent of proceeds while Contec Global reportedly retains 60 percent. While acknowledging conflicting public reports regarding the precise financial formula, the organization urged the government to immediately publish the original signed agreement along with all subsequent amendments to establish the true terms before the public.
According to the NPBL, any agreement touching upon Liberia’s core immigration infrastructure must be rigorously evaluated against the nation’s economic interests, national security priorities, and sovereign authority. Chairman Balo questioned whether proper economic assessments were conducted prior to signing and expressed doubt over whether the current arrangement delivers sufficient tangible benefits to the Liberian people.
The organization further challenged President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration to review controversial contracts inherited from the previous government. Balo emphasized that the public expects the current leadership to decisively reform or terminate arrangements that fail to protect national interests. The NPBL warned that ignoring these concerns through a non-transparent process could undermine confidence in the government’s commitment to contract reform. They maintained that merely renegotiating the revenue-sharing percentages would be insufficient, insisting instead on a total cancellation carried out through lawful legal procedures.
Beyond the fiscal terms, the organization highlighted broader weaknesses in immigration oversight, pointing to recent reports of illicit drug trafficking and fraudulent overseas travel and employment schemes operating within Monrovia. The NPBL called on law enforcement and judicial authorities to investigate allegations involving suspected transnational criminal networks, including individuals reportedly of Chinese and Ghanaian origin.
Although the NPBL acknowledged that no direct causal link has been legally established between the Contec Global contract and these specific criminal activities, it argued that robust immigration controls and stringent oversight are essential to prevent foreign networks from exploiting administrative vulnerabilities. The organization stressed the critical importance of protecting sensitive personal and immigration records, insisting that the sovereign state must retain direct, uncompromised control over data vital to national security.
Among its core demands, the NPBL called for an immediate independent audit of the contract’s financial performance, complete governmental control over all resident immigration data, and the creation of a secure, state-managed alternative system. The organization noted that such a system should prioritize national security, leverage local Liberian technical expertise, and safeguard all generated public revenue.
The group also urged the National Legislature and relevant government oversight institutions to exercise their constitutional mandate by investigating the agreement, examining its revenue implications, and holding accountable the officials responsible for its implementation.
The NPBL’s call for cancellation has reinvigorated public debate over public-private partnerships involving core state functions. The organization maintained that national security must never be treated as a commercial commodity, insisting that Liberia’s sovereignty, economic self-reliance, and public welfare must take precedence over private commercial interests. Ultimately, the NPBL called on the government to take decisive, lawful steps to address the contract while ensuring full compliance with statutory laws and international obligations.