By Amos Harris
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has signed into law the Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Decentralization and Modernization Act, a move that fundamentally alters the governance and administration of Liberia’s major sea and inland ports, according to a source within the Executive Mansion.
Although the reported signing has yet to be publicly announced by the Executive Mansion, the legislation effectively ends the National Port Authority’s (NPA) long-standing centralized control over Liberia’s port network and significantly redefines the role of NPA Managing Director Sekou A. M. Dukuly.
The port decentralization effort addresses a debate unfolding over nearly two years. In 2024, the Liberian Senate began advancing legislation to restructure the port sector and establish a separate regulatory framework. Introduced by Grand Bassa County Senator and Senate President Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, the measure was co-sponsored on the Senate floor in October 2024 by Margibi County Senator J. Emmanuel Nuquay.
In November 2024, the Senate passed legislation creating an independent Sea and Inland Ports Regulatory Authority to strengthen oversight, improve accountability, and promote sustainable port development. The measure moved to the House of Representatives, which concurred on the decentralization act and a companion regulatory bill on June 24, 2025.
President Boakai initially vetoed the legislation in July 2025, citing concerns over legal inconsistencies, institutional overlaps, and potential conflicts between the proposed regulatory authority and the Liberia Maritime Authority. He warned that establishing autonomous ports without a clear regulatory structure could lead to administrative confusion.
However, the veto did not end the push for reform. In January 2026, the Senate passed a revised version of the decentralization legislation despite earlier executive objections. The updated framework proposed dismantling the centralized NPA structure to create autonomous ports in Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville, and Harper alongside the new regulatory authority. Lawmakers later requested the legislation back for additional review and revision, a request granted by President Boakai to allow further refinements. By July 2026, the process culminated in the Senate formally acknowledging the House’s concurrence on the finalized bill.
With the law now signed, significant questions surround the authority and responsibilities of the NPA Managing Director. Information from a source familiar with the proposed transition indicates that Dukuly will have 80 days to transition from Managing Director of the National Port Authority to Managing Director of the Freeport of Monrovia. This shift represents a major reduction in scope, narrowing the position’s focus to the capital’s facility, while ports in Buchanan, Greenville, and Harper operate under separate autonomous management structures overseen by the new Port Regulatory Authority.
Proponents of decentralization argue that giving regional ports greater decision-making authority aligns management with local economic needs, attracts investment, creates jobs, and distributes trade opportunities beyond Monrovia. Conversely, critics express concern over whether smaller ports possess the financial resources, technical capacity, and institutional infrastructure to operate independently. Questions also remain regarding potential coordination challenges across national maritime security, customs operations, revenue collection, and broader infrastructure policy.
The reform represents a major redistribution of power over some of Liberia’s most strategic economic assets, shaping how port revenues, investments, and development are managed long into the future. Once the Executive Mansion formally releases the signed text and confirms effective implementation dates, the enactment will mark one of the most significant institutional transformations in Liberia’s maritime sector in decades.