By: Julius Konton
The Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA), Sekou Dukuly, this week announced a bold new reform package aimed at overhauling Liberia’s port management and logistics framework.
Under a five-year strategic blueprint titled “RESET”, Dukuly says the agency will embark on sweeping transformation to strengthen governance, streamline operations, expand infrastructure and decongest the country’s main cargo gateways.
At the launch of the Liberia Revenue Authority’s Time Release Study, Mr. Dukuly confirmed that under the RESET plan, one of the top-line objectives will be to slash customs-clearing time by 50 %, a target he described as “central” to the reform drive.
He emphasised that improved clearing efficiency will significantly relieve pressure on the port system.
The acronym RESET breaks down as follows:
R – Reform Governance & empower regional ports
E – Enhance operational efficiency & service delivery (including e-solutions)
S – Strengthen financial management & diversify revenue streams
E – Establish an inland container terminal to unlock congestion at port yard
T – Transform, expand and modernise port infrastructure
Dukuly noted that these reforms will place Liberia’s ports “on par” with leading African counterparts such as Tema in Ghana and Mombasa in Kenya both of which have made notable advances in efficiency and throughput.
The need for reform is underscored by measurable performance issues at the Freeport of Monrovia, which remains the country’s principal maritime gateway.
According to CEIC data, container-ships’ anchorage-stay duration has averaged 1.8 days as of May 2025, down from a high of 7 days in September 2024.
Meanwhile, the number of container-ship vessels waiting at Monrovia peaked at 5 units in December 2024, and has averaged around 2 units weekly since 2022.
Whether measured by days at anchor or by vessel queues, the indicators suggest delays that the NPA intends to address.
Liberia’s port network is managed by the NPA and comprises four major seaports: the Freeport of Monrovia, the Port of Buchanan, Port of Greenville and the Port of Harper.
The Freeport of Monrovia alone handles an estimated 90 % of the country’s economic activity and is undergoing modernisation efforts to become a trans-shipment hub.
In a recent concession report, APM Terminals Liberia reported that general-cargo volumes grew from 726 million metric tonnes (2017 baseline) to a projected 1,145 million metric tonnes by 2021, with container-volumes rising from 89 TEU to -110 TEU over the same period.
Strategic Interventions & Implementation Timeline
Dukuly revealed that the NPA is already engaged in a number of initiatives:
Utilisation of the Liberia-National-Time-Release-Study (LNTMBC) peer mechanism (once fully completed next year) to buttress customs procedures.
Finalisation of the Port Master Plan designed to reorganise the port footprint and reduce yard-congestion.
Launch of e-services and digital processing to support faster clearance and reduced dwell-times.
He admitted that congestion remains the “biggest issue” facing the NPA but expressed confidence that full delivery of the Master Plan will bring meaningful improvements.
Efficient port operations are critical for Liberia’s trade competitiveness.
According to the country’s investment promotion agency, transport and logistics reforms are a major part of the government’s strategy to attract investment and position the country as a regional hub.
A one-day reduction in anchorage or clearance time can translate into significant cost-savings for importers, exporters and the broader supply chain.
In a region where average port delays can reach multiple days, Liberia’s efforts seek to reduce barriers to trade and logistics.
While the ambitions are high, implementation will require sustained commitment, resources and coordination across multiple agencies (customs, revenues, port authority, private-sector terminals).
Some of the key risks include:
Inadequate funding for infrastructure upgrades.
Resistance or friction in digital-process reforms (e.g., customs, revenue).
Regional competition from neighbouring ports offering similar services.
Maintaining momentum across the five-year horizon.
Nevertheless, if the RESET plan is delivered as envisaged, Liberia could transform its maritime gateway, ease supply-chain burdens, and enhance its role within West African trade flows.
