Liberia: NPA Goes Online
Homepage view of NPA website.
…. Unveiled on Sept. 15, the website contains much needed information on the Freeport of Monrovia and all other ports across the country — boosting communication amongst users of the ports.
The National Port Authority (NPA) has commissioned a digital platform that would allow it to enhance trade among users of the port.
The platform, which is a website, is one component of the NPA Acting Managing Director Diana Nebo’s vision to have a port that utilize paperless, time-saving, and cost-efficient port operations as well as streamline its internal business processes, make use of high-end smart technologies, and utilize data for better decision making.
Unveiled on Sept. 15, the website (https://npa.gov.lr/) contained much-needed information on the Freeport of Monrovia and all other ports across the country — boosting communication amongst users of the ports.
The NPA system comprises four ports: Freeport of Monrovia, Port of Buchanan, Port of Greenville, and Port of Harper.
“Since 2017, this website has remained completely inaccessible in an age where digital technology has become the new frontier for ease of access to most public unities,” the NPA said in a statement.
“With mostly in-person interactions, costing more time and energy, the port found it difficult to disseminate nautical and other relevant information to ships and involved parties, especially investors, and shipping companies outside of the country as for five unbroken years, no one could log onto NPA’s website.”
“Now the new initiative is critical to ensure a more standard and modern medium for trade information and communication to the rest of the shipping world and the general public.”
However, the NPA has credited the farsightedness of Nebo, who saw the need after taking over as Acting Managing Director to commission a new digital that would boost communication between the four port users.
The NPA said that Nebo found it unacceptable that the port authority was lacking a functional website to allow its programs and services to be offered in a more dynamic, interactive way.
“She was embarrassed and said the situation would deny increased citizen participation in the day-to-day activities of the port, diminish convenience and speed in obtaining information or services to which people must have access,” the NPA said in a statement.