Liberia’s House of Representatives is taking aim at the Freeport of Monrovia. A special committee has launched a wide-ranging public inquiry. The target: excessive charges imposed by multiple operators. Representative J. Clarence T. Banks of Grand Bassa County Electoral District No. 2 triggered the investigation. He cited a pattern of fees burdening businesses and ordinary citizens. Committee Chairman Hon. Musa Hassan Bility convened the first public hearing on Wednesday, June 11. Present were representatives from the National Port Authority, the Liberia Revenue Authority, GTMS, MedTech, and shipping lines. The stakes are economic. Every unaccounted fee adds to the cost of goods in Liberia. As THE ANALYST’s H. Matthew Turryreports,
The Special Committee of the House of Representatives (HOR) investigating operations at the Freeport of Monrovia held its first public hearing on Wednesday, June 11, 2026, launching what lawmakers say will be a wide-ranging inquiry into allegations of excessive charges and operational bottlenecks burdening businesses and ordinary Liberians. The hearing, which lasted more than three hours, brought together key players across the port sector — including representatives from the National Port Authority (NPA), the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), GTMS, MedTech, APM Terminal, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Customs Brokers Association — to answer questions from legislators about fee structures, operational procedures, and longstanding complaints about the cost of doing business at the country’s principal seaport.
Banks Communication Triggers Legislative Action
The Special Committee was established following a formal communication submitted to plenary by Hon. J. Clarence T. Banks, Representative for Grand Bassa County Electoral District No. 2, who called for legislative scrutiny of what he described as excessive fees and administrative bottlenecks at the Freeport. According to Banks, the continued imposition of multiple port-related charges has negatively affected the business community, driven up the cost of imported goods, and placed an additional financial burden on ordinary citizens. The Committee is chaired by Hon. Musa Hassan Bility and co-chaired by Hon. Foday E. Fahnbulleh.
Stakeholders Testify Before Bility’s Committee
During Wednesday’s session, committee members received testimonies, presentations, and clarifications from the participating institutions. Stakeholders were asked to account for their respective roles at the port, explain their fee structures, and address the specific concerns raised by lawmakers and members of the public. The broad representation of port-sector stakeholders at the first hearing signals the Committee’s intent to examine the full chain of charges and processes that importers and businesses encounter when moving goods through Monrovia’s seaport.
Port charges in Liberia have long been a source of frustration for the private sector. Importers and businesses have complained that the accumulation of fees levied by multiple entities operating within and around the port makes goods more expensive and Liberia less competitive as a trade destination. The investigation will determine whether current practices involving GTMS, MedTech, and shipping lines are consistent with Liberian law and in the country’s economic interest.
Committee to Reconvene for Further Review
The Committee adjourned Wednesday’s hearing and is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. to continue hearing from stakeholders and reviewing relevant documents. Chairman Bility, in closing remarks, emphasized the Committee’s commitment to a fair, transparent, and comprehensive process aimed at ensuring accountability and protecting the interests of businesses and citizens affected by port-related charges. Once the Committee completes its review, it is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to plenary for consideration and possible legislative action.