Boakai Sets Up Yellow Machines Authority, Names Brownie Samukai Executive Chair
By Myean D Torgbean | Monrovia, Liberia — February 9, 2026
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has established the Yellow Machines Board of Authority (YMBOA) and appointed former Minister of National Defense, Brownie J. Samukai, as Executive Chairperson of its Coordinating Committee.
The move comes ahead of the expected arrival in Liberia of the first shipment of 285 yellow machines procured by the government from China for nationwide road construction and infrastructure development.
Board Composition
According to a statement from the Executive Mansion, the YMBOA is composed of the following government institutions:
Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs – Chair
Ministry of Public Works – Co-Chair
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning – Member
Ministry of National Defense – Member
Ministry of Agriculture – Member
Ministry of Local Government – Member
Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism – Member
General Services Agency (GSA) – Member
The Chairperson of the Special Presidential Project Coordinating Committee (SPPCC) will serve as Secretary to the Board.
Mandate and Oversight
The YMBOA will serve as the central authority responsible for the receipt, accountability, deployment, cost management, storage, operation, and maintenance of the yellow machines.
Its primary mandate is to establish a rigorous policy and management framework to ensure the equipment is efficiently utilized and properly maintained, with a strong emphasis on accountability and value for money.
Special Presidential Project Committee
President Boakai also constituted the Special Presidential Project Coordinating Committee (SPPCC) to manage the day-to-day operations of the machines under the supervision of the YMBOA.
The SPPCC leadership includes:
Hon. Brownie J. Samukai – National Coordinator / Executive Chairperson
Hon. Roger S.W.Y. Domah – Deputy Coordinator for Administration
Hon. St. Jerome Larbelee – Deputy Coordinator for Operations
A support staff team will be assembled to assist the committee.
The SPPCC is mandated to prepare and submit a National Deployment Plan for approval by the YMBOA, implement the approved plan, and submit monthly operational and status reports.
The committee is required to operate under a “Maintenance-First” policy aimed at maximizing the lifespan and effectiveness of the equipment.
Arrival of Machines Expected
Early last month, Deputy Public Works Minister for Technical Services, Prince Tambah, announced while in China that the first batch of the machines had been loaded onto a vessel bound for Liberia, with an expected arrival in late March 2026. Additional shipments are scheduled to follow.
Government officials say the arrival of the machines will mark a significant milestone in the Boakai administration’s drive for large-scale infrastructure development and road rehabilitation across the country.
