Liberians Warn of Governance Crisis After Senate Overrides President Boakai’s Ports Reform Veto

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai | President of the Republic of Liberia

Several Liberians have raised serious concerns over the Senate’s decision to override President Joseph Nyuma Boakai  Sr.’s veto of sweeping port sector reforms, warning that the move could precipitate a far-reaching constitutional, fiscal, and governance crisis within the country’s maritime sector one of Liberia’s most strategic economic pillars. Speaking to media outlets, concerned citizens, legal minds, and technocrats described the Legislature’s action as a “self-inflicted governance dilemma” that validates the deepest fears expressed by legal experts, fiscal watchdogs, and maritime professionals during legislative hearings. 

They argue that the override risks fracturing maritime governance, weakening regulatory credibility, and introducing fiscal instability into a sector that underpins trade, revenue generation, and Liberia’s international standing. Despite firm objections from the Ministry of Justice, lawmakers proceeded to override the President’s veto of two controversial pieces of legislation: the Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Regulatory Authority Act of 2024 and the Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Decentralization and Modernization Act of 2024. 

The laws fundamentally restructure port governance by dismantling the long-standing regulatory authority of the National Port Authority (NPA) and replacing it with a network of four autonomous seaports Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville, and Harper operating under a newly created Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Regulatory Authority. President Boakai returned the bills to the Legislature pursuant to Article 35 of the Constitution, urging restraint and cautioning that the reforms could result in institutional chaos, fiscal strain, and weakened maritime oversight. 

In his veto message, the President warned that the proposed framework lacked coherence, threatened regulatory overlap, and posed serious risks to national revenue management and compliance with international maritime standards. Justice Minister and Attorney-General, Cllr. Oswald Tweh, reinforced the President’s concerns through a detailed legal advisory to the Legislature. He cautioned that the laws would undermine the statutory authority of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), the internationally recognized body responsible for maritime safety, security, regulation, and compliance with global conventions.