Africa-Press – Liberia. President Joseph Boakai on Thursday dedicated a fleet of brand-new public transport buses, representing the first batch of 60 vehicles promised under a procurement agreement between the National Transit Authority (NTA) and ABK Incorporated, a Liberian-owned company.
While the government launched an extensive media campaign celebrating the arrival and dedication of the buses, it did not disclose full details of the financing arrangement behind the procurement. However, documents obtained by FrontPage Africa reveal that the agreement is valued at US$3.94 million for the delivery of 35 brand-new 62-seater TATA buses, 20 mini-buses, and 5 SINOTRUK trucks, aimed at expanding the NTA’s nationwide fleet.
An excerpt from the contract reads: “The Parties have mutually agreed that the delivery of the vehicles shall be at the Freeport of Monrovia and shall be specified, quantified with the total contract price of Three Million Nine Hundred Forty Thousand United States Dollars (USS3,940,000.00). This total amount is inclusive of handling and port charges and duty. The National Transit Authority shall underwrite the cost of customs duties.”
Signature Page: Who Signed the Deal?
The contract, signed and notarized in March 2025, bears the signatures of, Edmund Forh, Managing Director, NTA, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Finance & Development Planning, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Minister of Justice and Alieu B. Kromah, CEO of ABK Incorporated
What’s in the agreement?
The agreement stipulates that following the signing, and upon receipt of an initial US$500,000 from the government’s budgetary allotment, ABK Incorporated would commence delivery of the fleet.
The remaining US$3.44 million will be settled through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and the NTA in eight equal quarterly installments.
Payment Breakdown
Year One (2026) – US$1.72 Million. This will cover four quarterly payments of US$430,000 each from January to December 2026.
In year Two (2027), an amount US$1.72 Million will be paid. This include another four quarterly payments of US$430,000 each through December 2027.
According to the contract, the MFDP is required to issue a payment guarantee for the outstanding balance on behalf of the Government of Liberia.
A two-week grace period is allowed for late payments; beyond that, the contract imposes a 3% monthly interest on arrears.
What Liberia Is Receiving 35 TATA Mass Transit Buses (62-Seater), Cummins B180 Euro II engines, 6-cylinder diesel, full air S-CAM braking system, ABS, anti-roll bars, dual passenger doors and 350-liter fuel tank; 20 mini transit buses (19-Seater). These trucks are Euro II diesel engines, high-roof design and designed for short-distance mobility and 5 SINOTRUK Cargo Trucks – heavy-duty configuration for transport and logistics support.
Supplier Obligations: Spare Parts, Training & Warranty
The agreement mandates ABK Incorporated to supply one year of spare parts for all buses and trucks, provide three additional engines and one-year spare parts for the mini-buses, train NTA mechanics in servicing and repairs and ofer a one-year or 30,000-km warranty on the entire fleet
Defective units must be replaced within one month of acknowledgment.
Failure to meet warranty standards constitutes a breach of the agreement.
Duration, Termination & Disputes
The contract remains valid from January 1, 2026, until full payment is completed.
Either party may terminate the agreement with 30-day written notice, provided justifiable cause is established.
Unresolved disputes will be handled through arbitration under Liberian law, which governs the entire agreement.
The signing was certified by Notary Public Jefferson S. Team on March 20, 2025.
Call for Transparency
While many Liberians have welcomed the new buses—viewing them as long overdue relief to the country’s strained public transport system—the financial disclosures have triggered a wave of questions:
“This is welcoming but we need clarity: How was the procurement conducted? what is the source of the funds? Is the financing a loan? If so, at what interest rate?, asked Abraham Kollie, a legislative staffer who attended the program.
Kollie wants to know the financial obligation, including interest and fees, profit margin of ABK Incorporated earning and whether the Legislature was made aware or asked to approve the financing arrangement?
During the dedication, President Boakai stated that Ecobank is financing some of the administration’s projects, including the yellow earth-moving machines. This revelation has heightened public interest in whether the bank is also providing financing for the buses—and under what terms.
Thus far, key parties to the contract have remained silent about the financial structure behind the deal.
The public is demanding detailed explanations from the NTA, MFDP, and the Executive Branch. With millions of dollars in taxpayer resources committed, citizens insist on full clarity about how the funds were sourced and the terms under which they will be repaid.
Given the scale of the procurement and the financial implications, financial experts are calling on the Legislature to request a full breakdown of the procurement process, demand disclosure of financing terms and old public hearings to ensure transparency and accountability.
Liberians deserve to know how their money is being spent. The Legislature should step in to ask these relevant questions to ensure transparency and accountability,” said William Smith, an economist residing in Monrovia.
Source: FrontPageAfrica
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