Monrovia, Liberia • November 6, 2026 | HeartTalk Network Special Video Report

Liberian businesswomen have taken their grievances over prolonged shipping delays and rising port-related costs to the National Legislature and the National Port Authority (NPA), warning that the difficulties are putting locally owned trading businesses under severe financial pressure.

Footage supplied to HeartTalk Network shows a group of women gathered outside a public building in Monrovia, speaking forcefully to reporters and calling for action. The demonstration is consistent with reports of the November 3 protest by China Business Women United With One Voice and the Consortium of Liberia Importers, who petitioned the Legislature and the NPA.

Importers describe months-long delays and mounting costs

In their petition, the businesswomen said shipments from China and other Asian markets are taking between six and seven months to reach Liberia. That timeline is the importers’ reported experience and has not been independently verified by HeartTalk against carrier-level shipping records.

The traders say delays can leave their working capital tied up while loan interest, rent, staff salaries and tax obligations continue to fall due. They also complain that Delivery Orders may expire before goods are available for collection, exposing them to renewal fees, administrative surcharges, demurrage and detention charges.

The petitioners have called for an investigation into shipping and port processes, greater transparency around charges, clearer cargo-arrival and handover timelines, faster clearance procedures and relief from fees they believe arise from delays beyond their control. They have also raised concerns about the ability of locally owned businesses to compete in Liberia’s domestic trading market.

NPA acknowledges congestion and announces proposed relief measures

In a separate development on November 6, NPA Managing Director Sekou A. Dukuly announced measures intended to ease congestion at the Freeport of Monrovia. FrontPage Africa reported his statement that about 700 containers had remained at the port for more than 30 days.

The measures outlined by the NPA include plans to clear the delayed containers, extend port operating hours, temporarily pause berth repairs to accommodate vessels, open additional yard space and pursue direct Maersk vessel calls to Monrovia. Dukuly also said capital dredging was expected to begin within two to three weeks and that the authority was exploring additional free days and possible engagement with banks to ease pressure on affected importers.

These are announced plans and proposals; their implementation and impact have yet to be demonstrated. The NPA’s acknowledgement of congestion is important, but the wider complaints also involve shipping schedules, terminal handling, documentation and other parts of the import chain. Responsibility for each delay or charge should be established from records and responses by the relevant institutions.

Legislative scrutiny and the need for answers

Reports by Liberia News Network and other local outlets say the House of Representatives scheduled a November 6 engagement with port-sector institutions and business representatives following the petition. HeartTalk Network has not independently confirmed the outcome of that hearing at the time of publication.

Lawmakers should seek a clear breakdown of where delays occur—from vessel scheduling and berthing to container discharge, inspection, documentation and final release. They should also request published schedules of applicable charges, the legal or contractual basis for each fee, and data showing average cargo waiting and clearance times.

Port operators, shipping lines and government agencies should be given a fair opportunity to respond to the businesswomen’s allegations. The NPA’s announced interventions should be monitored against measurable results, including reduced waiting times, faster container release and transparent treatment of charges linked to delays.

Why this matters to ordinary Liberians

When importers cannot access goods on time, they may struggle to restock, repay loans and sustain jobs. Additional costs can also place upward pressure on prices, although the size of any effect on consumers has not been quantified in the reporting reviewed by HeartTalk.

The women’s protest is therefore more than a dispute over shipping paperwork. It is a call for an efficient, transparent port system that supports local enterprise, protects livelihoods and serves the wider Liberian economy.

Sources and related HeartTalk coverage

• Liberia News Network: Importers petition Legislature over seven-month shipping delays and increased port fees
• The Liberian Investigator: Women importers warn that port delays threaten businesses
• FrontPage Africa: NPA announces measures to ease Freeport congestion
• HeartTalk Network: NPA unveils emergency measures to ease Freeport congestion
• HeartTalk Network’s earlier report on the businesswomen’s petition

HeartTalk Network — Speaking from the Heart. This report distinguishes the protesters’ claims from confirmed developments and announced plans. We will update it as official records, responses and the results of legislative engagement become available.