ECOWAS Hands Over Renovated NTA Building to Govt at Bo-Waterside | News

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Joint Border Post Committee, in collaboration with the ECOWAS National Office at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), has officially handed over the renovated National Transit Authority (NTA) building at Bo-Waterside to the Government of Liberia.

The handover ceremony, held on Saturday, August 22, 2026, marks a significant step toward facilitating the relocation of government offices currently operating within the Bo-Waterside Joint Border Post.

The relocation is expected to clear the way for the demolition of existing structures within the designated project area, paving the way for the construction of critical components of the ECOWAS Joint Border Post.

The initiative is being advanced under the leadership of Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning and Minister in Charge of ECOWAS Affairs in Liberia, as part of broader efforts to strengthen regional integration, trade facilitation, border management, and economic cooperation.

Speaking at the ceremony, ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Mohamed Konneh, described the project as a practical demonstration of ECOWAS’ evolving mandate from a primary focus on peacekeeping to a broader agenda encompassing regional integration, economic diversification, sustainable development, peace and security.

Ambassador Konneh said the Bo-Waterside Joint Border Post reflects the core pillars of the ECOWAS vision, including peace and security, good governance and the rule of law, economic integration and connectivity, transformation and sustainable development, and social inclusion.

He stressed the need for all stakeholders, particularly contractors and project management teams, to work diligently to ensure that the project is completed within the agreed timeline and specifications.

Ambassador Konneh also emphasized the importance of community participation and monitoring in ensuring successful project implementation.

For his part, outgoing Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs and incoming ECOWAS Commissioner for Agriculture and Economic Affairs, Dehpue Y. Zuo described the initiative as an important milestone for Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the broader ECOWAS region.

Zuo said the project demonstrates what can be achieved through cooperation among neighboring countries, particularly in improving the movement of people and goods, strengthening institutional coordination, and promoting sustainable economic growth.

He noted that border communities, traders, transporters, and travelers have historically faced delays, duplicated procedures, and high transaction costs. 

The Joint Border Post, he said, is designed to address these challenges by bringing relevant border services together, improving coordination, reducing crossing times, and easing administrative burdens.

He further underscored the importance of efficient borders to Liberia’s economic transformation, noting that modern and well-managed border facilities can improve revenue administration, strengthen compliance, enhance security, facilitate investment, and reduce the cost of doing business.

Zuo commended the Government of Sierra Leone, the Liberia Revenue Authority, immigration and customs authorities, health and security agencies, local authorities, technical teams, and development partners for their contributions to the initiative.

He stressed that the success of the facility would ultimately be measured by reduced delays, lower transaction costs, improved compliance, enhanced security, and better services for citizens and businesses.