A cutting-edge facility, established in January 2019 through a collaboration between the Liberia National Police and the Liberia Traffic Management with an investment of US$50 million, remains inactive.
The state-of-the-art facility, intended for the inspection and registration of vehicles and drivers, is also equipped with a fleet of SUVs and motorbikes dedicated to enhancing road safety inspections. However, its operational status has been stalled by an extensive legal dispute over the contractual agreement, preventing its intended use.
The facility is owned by influential Lebanese investor, Dr. Imad Hajj.
The facility was set to launch on January 31, 2023 in an event attended by a cast of high-ranking diplomats, business leaders, and police including senior law enforcement personnel. But the day ended in shock and confusion.
The boycott of the launch and the refusal of the Inspector General of Police, Col. Patrick Sudue, to sign the Memorandum of Understanding was an order that came from the Executive Mansion, FrontPageAfrica and New Narratives gathered.
Later findings by FrontPageAfrica and New Narratives revealed that the Transport Ministry awarded a contract for registering cars and issuing license plates—services initially assigned to LTM—to the Modern Development Management Corporation (MDMC). This corporation is owned by John Youboty, who also serves as the Treasurer of President Weah’s political coalition, the Coalition for Democratic Change.
The vehicle registration and production of license plates contract is reportedly worth US$5 million a year.
Legal professionals assert that the agreement constituted a blatant breach of the concession granted to LTM in 2019, following its approval by both legislative houses and subsequent endorsement by President Weah. The President personally inspected the facility subsequent to ratifying the legislation. Experts emphasize that it is against the law for the government to impede or modify a concession at such a juncture, including the allocation of agreed-upon services to a different company.
However, it appears that President-elect Boakai, who will be assuming the Office of the Presidency in a week’s time, is poised to capitalize on the Liberia Traffic Management concession to foster the road infrastructure aspect of his ARREST agenda.
On Monday, Boakai toured the facility of the Liberia Traffic Management along an entourage including former Inspector General of Police, Gregory Coleman, who is rumored to reassume his role at the Liberia National Police.
President-elect Boakai, according to a release, was impressed with the facility having realized that it is a one-stop shop for processing of all instruments from drivers’ licenses, Licenses Plates, Road worthiness inspection to insurance policies.
He expressed optimism that the legal the legal hurdles surrounding the investment will be overcome so that the public will benefit from the just revenues of the investment.
Original story by Front Page Africa
