By: Wilmot Konah
The Chairperson of the Indomitable Youth Congress of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alieu Kiadii, has sharply criticized the government’s decision to transfer motor vehicle registration and driver’s licensing services from the Ministry of Transport (Liberia) to the Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LTMI), describing the move as a “national blunder.”
Kiadii warned that the decision could expose Liberia to significant risks, particularly regarding the handling and protection of sensitive national data. According to him, vehicle registration and driver’s licensing processes involve the collection and storage of personal and biometric information belonging to thousands of Liberians, which must remain under the control of a statutory government institution.
“Transferring such a critical national responsibility to a private company, especially one with foreign linkages, is a national blunder that could compromise Liberia’s data sovereignty and institutional integrity,” Kiadii said.
The ANC youth leader argued that the Ministry of Transport has historically and legally served as the government body responsible for regulating motor vehicles, issuing driver’s licenses, and maintaining vehicle registration records across the country. He expressed concern that allowing a private entity to assume those responsibilities could weaken government oversight and create gaps in accountability within the transport sector.
“Motor vehicle registration and driver’s licensing are not just administrative services; they involve the protection of sensitive personal and national data. These functions must remain within the control of a statutory government institution that is accountable to the Liberian people,” he added.
Kiadii further suggested that the decision could potentially violate Liberia’s legal and constitutional framework governing public institutions. He maintained that the responsibilities assigned to the Ministry of Transport are clearly outlined under Liberian law and should not be transferred without proper legal procedures and national consultation.
“The Ministry of Transport is the legally mandated authority to carry out these functions. Any attempt to transfer those statutory responsibilities to a private entity raises serious legal and constitutional concerns,” Kiadii asserted.
The ANC youth chair therefore called on the government to immediately reconsider and reverse the decision, stressing that national interests must be placed above private arrangements.
“We are urging the government to halt this process and return the responsibility for vehicle registration and driver’s licensing to the Ministry of Transport. Liberia’s national interest and the protection of citizens’ data must remain the top priority,” he concluded.
