By Laurina B. Lormia
The National Port Authority has expressed discomfort with the current contract agreement involving Global Tracking Maritime Solutions (GTMS) and the Cargo Tracking Network (CTN) at the Freeport of Monrovia.
Over the weekend, the Managing Director Sekou Dukuly, made a significant disclosure regarding the agreements with GTMS and CTN, and highlighted that these agreements have not been beneficial to the NPA and the Liberian people.
He emphasized that, the continued presence of GTMS and CTN in the country will hinge on a substantial reduction in the fees they charge.
According to him, the Free Port of Monrovia and other major ports continue to suffer and complain about the GTMS and CTN fees being charged. Adding that, these fees benefit the port rather than the Liberian people and the (NPA).
He stressed that, they are not comfortable with the GTMS and CTN contracts. “Fair to say, they are not happy with anything except the contract agreement they met there. They respect contractor agreements made there, but they are not comfortable with them.
He explained further, “A 15-year cargo tracking contract worth US$ 25M and signed between the led-government of former President George Weah and the Global Tracking Maritime Solutions (GTMS), is currently being implemented in post-conflict Liberia without the acquiescence of key government ministries, agencies and the National Legislature.”
“On July 11, 2018, the Plenary of the Liberian Senate set up an Ad-Hoc Committee to launch an investigation into the Cargo Tracking Network (CTN) contract signed between the GOL, through the National Port Authority (NPA) and Global Tracking Maritime Solutions on July 11, 2018,” he narrated.
The contract was signed between GTMS and the former Managing Director of NPA, Celia Cuffey Brown, including the former Finance Minister, Samuel Tweh and was attested by the former Minister of Justice, Musa Dean on behalf of the government.
“Liberia is a country of law and President Joseph N. Boakai has stated that several times, Liberians are not gangsters, so when they come and see contracts signed by their predecessor, GTMS and CTN contracts are not good for the country and people of Liberia,” he lamented.
“We are talking to GTMS and CTN because there are numbers on our desk that are not encouraging at all. If that service will be extended, it has to improve, they have to lower their fees, we can’t live in a world where everybody sells something to Liberians but Liberians cannot sell to them,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Dukuly pointed out that he imported over 30 containers last year for his water factor that is undergoing construction in Liberia and paid CTN and GTMS fees and was not happy and is still importing materials.
He concluded that, they do not want to predict the senate report on GTMS and CTN, If they will stay or be extended, they have to make changes in that agreement with regards to fees that benefit the port and the Liberian people.
