Liberia: ‘Too Many Checkpoints Along Loguatuo-Monrovia Highway’

The unprecedented increase of checkpoints along the Loguatuo–Monrovia highway is said to be worrying commercial drivers who are plying the route.

The drivers complained about too many police checkpoints, leading to an unwarranted level of extortion (money demanded by police officers in order for commercial vehicles to cross the checkpoints). 

One driver, Lusine Lama Toure, told the Daily Observer in Loguatuo that it cost each driver at least over L$2,000 in gate drop fees from Loguatuo to Monrovia, depending on the type of vehicle.

Toure said that the situation is leading to many drivers being unable to meet their daily revenue targets. 

“Even if you put L$2,000 in your pocket as the gate drops from here to Monrovia, it wouldn’t do anything because the gates are so many, including police cones as well as highway police,” he said.

When asked how much they paid at each gate, he said, “The smallest amount you pay is L$200 per gate, and it is demanding; if you don’t pay the money, they will demand an inspection, but if you pay, no inspection.”

Despite this driver’s allegation of an increase in the number of gates on the highway, the Daily Observer also observed many gates along the Ganta-Monrovia highway, especially at night, but many put the reason for the multiplicity of checkpoints to counter crimes and also monitor the movement of vehicles.

“Most of these commercial cars carry contraband during the night, and no one cares to monitor the movement of vehicles or give tickets to drivers who violate,” said one Wilson, a man believed to be a police officer.

“Increment in checkpoints also led to the skyrocketing of fares, where even if you were traveling with a handbag, you had to pay a transport fare for it,” said Joseph P. Dehmie, a commuter.

When this reporter visited the Loguatuo Port recently, it was observed that, besides the border post checkpoint, there are three main checkpoints from Loguatuo to Ganta. However, on Friday, additional checkpoints were added by police to regulate the flow of traffic, mainly between Karnplay and the border.

On the Ganta–Monrovia road, there are three main checkpoints, including Ganta Immigration Point, Gbarnga Immigration Checkpoint, and the Salala Checkpoint. However, several other checkpoints are established by the police, especially where there is a police station or depot along the highway.

The highway police also erected another checkpoint around 15 Gate, using the highway patrol car as a shelter or office, even carrying out inspections until midnight.

Even though the issue of extortion by security cannot be overemphasized, drivers and passengers who continue to complain about police exploitation get no redress. 

In another development, state security along the Sanniquellie-Loguatuo Road has arrested several contrabands, short single bearer guns, and assorted quantities of medical drugs, among others.