MONROVIA, Liberia – Leading frozen food distributor West Africa Enterprise has issued a firm rebuttal against social media allegations linking it to the sale of contaminated products at a retail outlet in Ganta, Nimba County, labeling the claims as “misinformation” and a violation of its brand standards.
The controversy erupted on Saturday, September 6, when inspectors from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, led by Inspector General Meator Gbatu, discovered a stock of rotten and unwholesome goods at Branch #26 in Ganta, a store operated by businessman Samir Awada. The discovery prompted immediate public alarm over food safety.
In a swift and detailed statement released hours after the news broke, West Africa Enterprise moved to distance itself completely from the incident. The company clarified that while Branch #26 operates under its brand via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), it is neither owned nor managed by the parent company. Instead, Mr. Awada runs it as an independent agent.
“We categorically reject any act of defamation against our entity and wish to clarify recent misinformation,” the management stated. “Branch #26 in Ganta does not represent West Africa Enterprise.”
The company emphasized that its reputation is built on a commitment to delivering “the finest quality frozen products” in Liberia and that it enforces rigorous safety and freshness standards across all its authorized outlets.
Crucially, the release revealed that the Ganta agent **“has not sourced products from West Africa Enterprise in more than a month.”** The contaminated goods, the company asserts, were allegedly procured from outside its approved supply chain, an action it called “contrary to the values and quality we stand for.”
The company further explained that its MoU with agents explicitly requires them to purchase only company-vetted products that meet its strict standards. The sale of spoiled goods therefore constitutes a clear breach of that agreement.
West Africa Enterprise assured its customers nationwide that its corporate-owned and compliant outlets remain fully committed to supplying safe, high-quality products. “A visit to any of our genuine outlets will confirm our uncompromising standards and pristine product quality,” the statement concluded.
As one of Liberia’s largest distributors of frozen food, West Africa Enterprise says it is actively monitoring its agent network and supply chain to uphold consumer trust, especially amid growing public scrutiny of food safety standards in the country.
