One day following President Joseph Nyuma Boakai's surprising announcement that EcoBank Liberia is funding the much-anticipated acquisiti...
One day following President Joseph Nyuma Boakai's surprising announcement that EcoBank Liberia is funding the much-anticipated acquisition of "yellow machines" to aid the government's road and infrastructure initiatives, FrontPage Africa reports that a Chinese company, Evergreen Liberia Limited, has already been chosen to provide the machinery.
Although the President provided limited information during his speech—raising public interest in the funding framework and purchasing procedure—FPA's inquiry has revealed that Evergreen Liberia Limited, which has a proven history in importing heavy machinery, secretly secured the competitive contract.
Boakai: "EcoBank is also providing funding for the yellow machines"
During the launch of the initial batch of new public buses at the National Transit Authority (NTA) headquarters in Gardnerville on Thursday, President Boakai commended EcoBank for its sustained efforts in supporting national growth.
"I would also like to express my gratitude to the bank—EcoBank has been around for a very long time. They have supported various initiatives we have undertaken. In fact, they are currently funding the yellow machines that will arrive soon," the President stated.
His comment quickly sparked discussion about why the financial agreement had not been formally revealed and what part the bank is taking beyond regular lending functions.
Inside Source Reveals: Filming Has Been Finished
A knowledgeable source involved in the procurement process shared with FPA that the contract is significantly progressed, with the production of the equipment already finished in China. FPA learned that SANY, a Chinese multinational heavy equipment company based in Changsha, Hunan, is the manufacturer. SANY was first mentioned as the producer by the initial group of officials led by Mamaka Bility, the Minister of State Without Portfolio.
An insider, who requested to remain unnamed as they are not permitted to speak publicly, stated: "I can confirm it's finalized. A Chinese firm with the necessary capabilities has secured the contract, and manufacturing of the yellow machines is already finished. The President was correct in saying EcoBank is financing the project. The bank will work with the National Road Fund and the Ministry of Public Works to gather the funds."
As per the source, the contract, valued at US$22 million, goes beyond just providing machinery, encompassing training for Liberian technicians, post-sale services, and long-term maintenance, representing one of the most extensive heavy-equipment purchasing projects in recent times. As part of the agreement, Evergreen Liberia Limited will provide an additional 20 Pick-up Trucks, four containers of spare parts, and deploy four Chinese engineers to train approximately 1,000 Liberians.
Scope of the Project
Although the government is set to officially release the complete agreement in the next few days, FPA has discovered that the equipment package is designed to assist with community access roads, farm-to-market road clearing, county public works activities, emergency road repairs, and regular maintenance tasks.
The gear—commonly known as "yellow machines"—generally consists of graders, loaders, bulldozers, excavators, compactors, and trucks. It remains uncertain how many machines there are in total, but the government had previously stated that the package contains 285 machines to be spread across the 15 counties in Liberia, with each county getting 19 units.
The shipments are anticipated to arrive in December, after which President Boakai will begin his state tour to distribute the equipment, an official stated.
"This is why the president hasn't gone on his county tour. He's waiting for the machines to arrive so he and the Vice President can present them to the public," the source stated.
A Major Increase -- If Implemented
One of the most urgent issues in Liberia is its infrastructure. Experts believe that the introduction of new earth-moving machinery—when used openly and effectively—could significantly enhance local road departments and boost transportation across the country.
As the Boakai administration places significant emphasis on its "ARREST" plan, especially the component centered around infrastructure development, the successful deployment of the yellow machines might stand as one of its first and most concrete accomplishments.
However, the agreement has not been without debate.
From a $79 Million Proposal to a Revised Agreement
The debate originated in May 2024, when the Minister of State Without Portfolio, Mamaka Bility, presented a proposal worth US$79 million for purchasing road equipment. The initiative faced immediate backlash from legislators, community organizations, and anti-corruption activists, who raised concerns about the absence of legislative support, issues with transparency, and the high costs they claimed were excessive.
Due to public criticism, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai instructed Vice President Jeremiah Koung to rework the deal. The VP subsequently revealed a much lower cost of $22 million, to be paid in installments over three years, and pledged a more open purchasing procedure.
Vice President Koung later headed a senior delegation to China in an effort to find trustworthy companies to provide the yellow machines.
Nevertheless, officials subsequently explained that the government would not provide direct funding for the acquisition. Consistent with public procurement guidelines, a competitive bidding procedure was initiated for the delivery and import of the equipment.
Assessment Procedure -- and Suspected Anomalies
The selection panel comprised members from the Ministry of Public Works, the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), and the Office of the Vice President. It had the duty of maintaining a transparent and reliable procurement assessment.
However, worries arose regarding potential issues in the assessment process.
Two major points lie at the heart of these worries: Ignored Discount:
A Liberian-owned company, ABK Incorporated, asserts that the committee did not utilize its 0.5% discount—an oversight that might have altered the final bid standings.
Excluded Preference Margin: The Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA) requires a 15% preference margin for companies based in Liberia. Analysts note that ABK did not receive this benefit, possibly providing a foreign competitor with an unjust advantage.
The Bids
Three firms applied for the contract to supply 285 machines: ABK Incorporated (Liberia) with a proposal of US$25,275,120.00, American Procurement Service offering US$30,382,479.00, and Evergreen Import & Export Federation (Foreign) presenting a bid of US$21,646,035.00.
The American Procurement Service is said to have been excluded due to surpassing the $30 million limit, resulting in ABK and Evergreen being the last two competitors.
As per ABK, after applying the 15% preference and the 0.5% discount, ABK's revised bid should have amounted to US$21,376,432.42—less than Evergreen's offer of US$21,646,035.00. However, ABK reportedly received notice that its bid was deemed "unresponsive," a choice that has sparked concerns regarding transparency and equity in the assessment procedure.
Lingering Questions
Although there are indications of advancement, a number of important questions still remain - what kind of repayment system is being set up with the National Road Fund? Why hasn't the complete agreement been released to the public? Has the Legislature been officially informed, considering the financial consequences?
A confidential insider revealed to FrontPage Africa that although specific numbers have not been made public, the interest rate for the financial agreement is thought to be in the range of 4% to 8%, with plans to repay the loan within two to three years.
Representatives from the Ministry of Public Works and the National Road Fund have remained silent.
A Possible Advancement -- If Handled Properly
If the process is completed and the equipment is delivered, the acquisition could represent a significant advancement in enhancing Liberia's long-overlooked road system. When used effectively and efficiently, the machinery could strengthen county road departments and speed up rural access.
As the Boakai administration continues to advance its infrastructure plans, the public will be closely observing whether this agreement turns into a significant success—or another wasted chance.
FrontPage Africa will keep tracking this evolving news.
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