Gov’t Reduces Transportation Fares

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr.

The government of Liberia through the Ministries of commerce, Trade and Industry and Transport has drastically reduced the transportation fares within Monrovia and its environs.

Addressing a news conference Friday, July 27, 2018 at the Ministry of Transport in Monrovia, Deputy Transport Minister for Land and Rail, Darious Kollie said the decision by the two ministries to reduce the transportation fares in the country is based on the reduction in the cost of petroleum in the country by US$0.14.

Deputy Minister Kollie stated that there are penalties laid down for any commercial driver that is caught in the act of overcharging passengers above the stipulated prices released by the Ministries.

“The Ministry of Transport by authority has issued the following new fares list for all categories of commercial transportation in Monrovia and its environs. Notwithstanding any commercial driver overcharging passengers outside of the government approved fares, will be penalized accordingly,” Deputy Minister Kollie warned.

Deputy Minister Kollie disclosed that from Broad Street to the Monrovia City Hall is twenty Liberian dollars (L$20.00) in a taxi cab, from Broad Streets to 24^th Streets in Sinkor is thirty-five Liberian dollars (L$35.00) in a taxi cab, from Broad Streets to ELWA junction is sixty Liberian dollars (L$60.00) in a taxi cap, from Broad Street to Duport Road Junction is sixty-five Liberian dollars (L$65.00) and from Broad Streets to Red-light is eighty Liberian dollars (L$80.00) among others.

Kollie told the news conference that Transport Ministry alone did not derive this new fare list but was quick to point out that it was done in consultations with all the relevant stakeholders within the transportation sector including the drivers’ union, petroleum importers, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and others.

The Deputy Transport Minister asserted that the Transport Ministry in collaboration with the Liberia National Police (LNP) is going to ensure that the new fare is fully implemented, thus, there are fines set aside for would be violators.

He named hundred United States dollars (US$100) as first offense, two hundred United States dollars (US$200) as second offense and the suspension of the operator driver’s license for the period of two years as third offense.

Recently, due to the high cost in the price of petroleum in the country and the world over, the transportation fares in the country were overwhelmingly increased by commercial.