Liberia’s Prexy Boakai Appoints Brownie Samukai to Lead National Yellow Machines Management Board

By: Staff Reporter | www.thepointafricanews.com | Monrovia

Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has established the Yellow Machines Board of Authority (YMBOA) to oversee the management, deployment, and maintenance of government-owned heavy-duty equipment, appointing former Minister of National Defense Brownie J. Samukai as Executive Chairperson of the Board’s Coordinating Committee.

The move comes ahead of the anticipated arrival of the first shipment of 285 yellow machines procured by the Government of Liberia from China for nationwide road construction and infrastructure development. The initial batch is expected to arrive in Monrovia in late March 2026, according to government officials.

Under the presidential directive, the YMBOA will serve as the central authority responsible for accountability, policy development, deployment, cost management, storage, operations, and maintenance of the machines. The Board is also mandated to establish a comprehensive framework to ensure efficient utilization and long-term value for money.

The Board’s membership includes representatives from key government institutions: the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Local Government, and the General Services Agency (GSA). A representative from the Special Presidential Project Coordinating Committee (SPPCC) will serve as Secretary to the Board.

In a related decision, President Boakai also constituted the Special Presidential Project Coordinating Committee (SPPCC), naming Mr. Samukai as Executive Chairperson and National Coordinator. The Committee is tasked with the day-to-day strategic management and operational coordination of the yellow machines as a designated Special Presidential Project, working under the policy oversight of the YMBOA.

The SPPCC includes Roger S.W.Y. Domah as Deputy Coordinator for Administration, St. Jerome Larbelee as Deputy Coordinator for Operations and Technical Services, Emmanuel Monlue as Assistant Coordinator for Policy and General Services, and Ibrahim R. Kiazolu as Comptroller. A dedicated support staff is expected to be assembled to assist the Committee.

A core responsibility of the SPPCC is the preparation of a National Deployment Plan, subject to approval by the YMBOA, detailing how the equipment will be allocated and utilized across the country. The Committee is also required to submit monthly activity and status reports and operate under a strict “Maintenance-First” policy aimed at extending the lifespan and efficiency of the machinery.

Government officials say the arrival and deployment of the yellow machines represent a major milestone in the Boakai administration’s infrastructure agenda, with expectations that the equipment will significantly enhance road rehabilitation, public works delivery, and national development efforts.