For approximately two decades now, the business environment of Africa’s Grand-Ma, Liberia, is increasingly becoming critically affected as a result of the alleged failure of governments to address concerns being raised by people in the sector.
This challenge can also be attributed to the deliberate inability of leaders to ensure that laws governing the sector are fully and transparently implemented.
At a well-attended news conference held in Central Monrovia on Monday, June 10, 2024, the National Chairman of the Patriotic Entrepreneurs of Liberia, Dominic Nimely blamed Legislators for their inability to fully execute their legislative oversight authorized by the Liberian Constitution.
“Foreign businesses ran the private sector during the last administration Despite pronouncement by ex-president, Weah that Liberians will not be spectators in their own economy. As a result of this, we are calling on the Our Father (President Boakai) to prioritize the Liberian business community because we are the bedrock of the economy “, Mr. Nimely noted.
PATEL President is quoted as saying, “Our first regret is that our Father, JNB had an oversight by failing to meet the Liberian business community for the past four months now and the next one is the fact that there was absolutely no representation of the business community at the recent US-Africa business summit held in the United States.
According to him, the Liberianization policy is not working because it is only written in black and white but its implementation is a serious problem.
The business leaders have also threatened unspecified actions if key concerns of the sector are not addressed by the Joseph Boakai led government.
“If nothing is done, we will take unspecified actions”, says Mohammed Barrie, president of the Fula business association.
It is not clear whether the unspecified action could be a mass shutdown of businesses, a nationwide strike or a legal action against corrupt officials.
Mr. Barrie accused other nationals of violating the law thereby importing, distributing, engaging into wholesale and retailing, something he termed as frustrating.
