Monrovia — The Liberian Legislature has repassed the Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Regulatory Act of 2025 after incorporating amendments requested by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, setting the stage for the law to take effect [if it is signed by the president] amid growing public debate over its implications for maritime and port governance.
By Jaheim Tumu, [email protected]
President Boakai had earlier vetoed portions of the Act, citing the need for clarity and legal consistency. Legislative sources and legal experts say those concerns have now been fully addressed, clearing the way for the Act’s passage.
However, the repassage has reignited controversy, particularly claims circulating in public discourse that the new law strips the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) of its port regulatory powers. Experts and lawmakers involved in the process have rejected those claims as misleading.
Clarifying the Maritime Authority Question
Critics of the Act have pointed to Section 37 of the Maritime Act to argue that the Inland and Seaport Regulatory Act undermines LiMA’s mandate. Legal experts say this interpretation is incorrect.
A review of Part VIII (Repealers) of the Act shows that the provisions amended or repealed relate primarily to the Ministry of Transport, not port regulation under LiMA. Specifically, the changes remove maritime-related functions previously lodged within the Ministry of Transport and vest them in the Authority created under the new law.
These include the removal of the Deputy Minister for Maritime Affairs, the dissolution of the Division of Maritime Affairs within the Ministry of Transport, and the transfer of powers related to maritime law administration, shipping negotiations, sea services policy, and regulation of waterways and vessels.
Experts note that none of these provisions revoke or diminish LiMA’s statutory maritime functions. Instead, they argue, the amendments streamline institutional roles by separating maritime administration from port regulation.
“There is nothing in Section 37 that speaks directly to port regulation under the Maritime Authority,” one legal analyst said. “The public narrative suggesting otherwise conflates maritime administration with port regulation, which are distinct under Liberian law.”
Debate Over Port Assets
A second point of contention centers on Section 720(2) of the Inland and Seaport Regulatory Act, which provides for the transfer of “rights, assets, liabilities, and obligations” of the dissolved ports to the newly established Liberia Seaport Regulatory Agency (LSRA).
Opponents have argued that this means all physical port assets — including land, buildings, and equipment — would automatically belong to the regulatory agency once the Act is signed into law.
Supporters of the Act dispute this claim, emphasizing that the provision refers to “rights assets,” not merely physical assets. They argue that the distinction is critical and has been misrepresented in public discussions.
Legal experts explain that “rights assets” typically refer to intangible assets, such as licenses, regulatory rights, concessions, and other legal entitlements that allow an institution to exercise authority and generate economic value. These differ from tangible assets like infrastructure and equipment, which remain subject to separate legal and administrative arrangements.
“The suggestion that all port buildings and lands will be taken over by the regulator is not supported by the text of the law,” another expert noted. “The Act clearly speaks to rights and obligations necessary for regulation, not wholesale ownership of physical infrastructure.”
No Legal Conflict, Experts Say
Supporters of the repassed Act maintain that there is no legal contradiction between the Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Regulatory Act and the Liberia Maritime Authority Act. They argue that the two laws operate in parallel, with LiMA retaining its maritime oversight role while the LSRA focuses on port regulation and supervision.
As the bill now awaits the President’s signature, observers say the controversy underscores the need for clearer public communication around complex legal reforms.
“With the provisions laid out in black and white, the issue now is not the law itself but how it is being interpreted and presented to the public,” a legislative source said.
Whether the clarifications will ease public concern remains to be seen, but for now, the Legislature insists that the repassed Act reflects the President’s concerns and preserves the integrity of Liberia’s maritime and port governance framework.
