Dock Workers Urge President Boakai to Reject Port Autonomy Bills
Dock workers under the banner of the Dock Workers Union of Liberia (DOWUL) have formally petitioned the Executive Mansion, calling on President Joseph N. Boakai to veto two controversial bills that would grant autonomy to Liberia’s seaports. The union warned that the proposed legislation could destabilize the maritime sector and jeopardize thousands of jobs.
On Thursday, January 16, 2025, representatives of the Workers Union of the National Port Authority (NPA) presented their petition on Capitol Hill, voicing strong opposition to the Liberia Ports Authority Act and the Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Decentralization and Modernization Act. According to the union, the measures threaten the foundation of Liberia’s port governance system, which has operated under a centralized framework for nearly six decades.
The union emphasized that the NPA, established by legislative act in 1967, was deliberately designed as a centralized institution to ensure coordinated planning, shared resources, and balanced development across all public ports. They argued that granting autonomy to individual ports would dismantle this integrated system, erode the NPA’s mandate, and introduce legal and operational uncertainty into a sector that depends on cohesion.
Dock workers maintained that centralized oversight has historically allowed Liberia to pool scarce resources, share technical expertise, and maintain stability in port operations despite ongoing economic challenges. They insisted that this model has been the backbone of Liberia’s maritime industry and should not be discarded without careful consideration.
DOWUL stressed that port operations demand heavy investment in infrastructure, security, technology, and maintenance—costs that even larger economies often manage under centralized authorities. They warned that Liberia’s limited revenue base makes a fragmented, autonomous model financially unsustainable. Citing examples from Ghana and South Africa, the union noted that many countries with stronger economic bases continue to operate centralized port systems to benefit from economies of scale. They argued that Liberia should learn from these models rather than pursue a risky experiment in decentralization.
A major concern raised in the petition is the future of Liberia’s outstation ports—Buchanan, Greenville, and Harper—which rely heavily on revenues generated by the Freeport of Monrovia. The Freeport handles an estimated 95 percent of Liberia’s maritime traffic, with its revenues subsidizing operations and development at the smaller ports.
Autonomy, the union warned, would sever this financial lifeline, leaving outstation ports unable to cover basic operating costs or invest in upgrades. They cautioned that this would inevitably result in declining services, job losses, and possible port closures.
The petition further highlighted the social impact of such closures, noting that surrounding communities would suffer economic decline if smaller ports were forced to shut down. Local businesses, workers, and families would all be affected by the loss of maritime activity.
The union also raised alarm over pension liabilities under the proposed autonomy framework. Requiring individual ports to assume responsibility for pensions of long-serving workers, they argued, would place an unsustainable burden on smaller ports.
Many retirees and near-retirement workers could be left without guaranteed benefits, creating social hardship and exposing the government to future liabilities. The union insisted that this issue alone should be enough to halt the bills.
Additionally, the NPA currently holds long-term international contracts and financial obligations. The union warned that the bills fail to outline a clear transition plan for managing these commitments, raising concerns about potential breaches and financial instability. Dock workers further argued that Liberia’s outstation ports lack the infrastructure and revenue streams needed for autonomous operation. Aging facilities, limited equipment, and weak local markets would make it difficult for these ports to independently manage dredging, maintenance, and modernization.
They also pointed to demographic constraints, noting that the combined population of areas hosting the outstation ports is about 617,000—far below what would be required to sustain autonomous port operations through local trade alone. Collectively, the three ports handle only about five percent of national maritime traffic. In its closing appeal, the Workers Union of the NPA urged President Boakai to veto the autonomy bills, describing them as costly, unnecessary, and potentially destructive. They argued that the risks of autonomy far outweigh any perceived benefits.
The petition was received on behalf of the Executive Mansion by the President’s Political Advisor, MacDella Cooper, who assured dock workers that their concerns would be promptly conveyed to the President. She emphasized that President Boakai listens to the voices of the people and exercises wisdom in matters of national importance. The union warned that the proposed governance structure—featuring separate nine-member boards for each of the four ports—would expand bureaucracy, increase public spending, and deliver little improvement in service delivery. They described this as a recipe for inefficiency rather than progress.
As the bills await executive action, the petition underscores mounting resistance from port workers who fear that sweeping changes to Liberia’s maritime governance could unravel decades of centralized planning and shared development. The outcome now rests with President Boakai, whose decision will shape the future of Liberia’s ports and the livelihoods of thousands of workers.
Author: Victor Quaye
