By: Geeplay Ezekiel Geeplay| Contributing Writer
Monrovia, Liberia |May 12, 2026 |Students from Excellent Grace Academy and Shelthon School of Excellence have gained firsthand knowledge of Liberia’s maritime trade and port operations following an educational visit to the Freeport of Monrovia under the National Port Authority’s Corporate Social Responsibility outreach program.
The visit provided students and faculty members with the opportunity to learn how goods enter the country and how port activities contribute to national development and everyday life in communities across Liberia.
The delegation was welcomed at the National Port Authority headquarters by Deputy Managing Director for Administration, James Richard Bernard, who described the Freeport of Monrovia as a vital part of Liberia’s economy and trade system.
According to Bernard, the outreach initiative is intended to help young people better understand the importance of national infrastructure and the role the port plays in supporting businesses and communities throughout the country.
“Opening the Freeport of Monrovia to the public is part of our corporate social responsibility to provide educational institutions with exposure to the daily operations of the port,” Bernard said.
He explained that nearly 90 percent of goods entering Liberia pass through the Freeport of Monrovia, making the facility one of the country’s most important economic gateways.
Bernard added that the initiative reflects the National Port Authority’s commitment to youth engagement, education, and increasing public awareness about Liberia’s strategic assets and economic systems.
During the tour, students visited several operational areas within the Freeport, including facilities managed by APM Terminals Liberia, one of the port’s major concessionaires.
The students observed cargo handling activities and learned about the movement of goods through the port.
Teachers and students described the experience as educational and inspiring, noting that the visit helped bridge classroom learning with real-world knowledge about trade, transportation, and national development.
The outreach program forms part of ongoing efforts by the National Port Authority to strengthen public understanding of port operations while encouraging young Liberians to take interest in national development and economic growth.
