-Rally Town Marketeers Accuse LMA Leadership of Exploitation
MONROVIA – Dozens of aggrieved marketers at Rally Town Market on UN Drive took to the streets Monday, accusing the Liberia Market Association (LMA) of imposing heavy-handed and unjustified fees on them.
The protest, led by market women and men, centered on a recent LMA directive mandating additional table fees—a move demonstrators say adds yet another financial burden to an already dire business climate.
“We are paying for security, cleaning, and market tickets, but we see no improvements,” a market, Esther Fahnbulleh said while speaking on behalf of the group. “The market roof leaks, our goods are destroyed when it rains, and the environment remains unsanitary. The leadership collects our money but ignores our needs.”
Protesters accused LMA President Madam Lusu Crawford of prioritizing revenue over vendor welfare. They also criticized the association’s decision-making process, claiming fee hikes are enacted without adequate consultation. “We are not on the streets because we enjoy protesting. We are here because business is hard and the leadership continues to place more burdens on us,” Fahnbulleh added.
Several vendors called for a revised fee structure based on individual sellers rather than per-table charges, arguing the current system is excessive and regressive. One protester, who identified herself only as Naomi, also alleged that during the last LMA election, market women were sold low-cost lappa materials for as much as LD$800—a practice she described as exploitative.
“All this confusion is because of the new leadership. We have never experienced these kinds of increases before. We were paying much lower fees in the past, so where are these new charges coming from?” the protester questioned.
In response, LMA Deputy Managing Director for Operations Aaron Tarune said the protest caught leadership off guard. He noted that the fee adjustments were discussed and reportedly endorsed by delegates during the association’s 2024 convention in Lofa County.
“It was shocking to see our people on the streets because no formal concerns reached us beforehand,” Tarune said in an exclusive interview. He pledged that the leadership would engage the vendors and review their grievances. “We will look into the matter and continue to work in the best interest of all marketeers.”
The demonstration briefly disrupted activity at the busy market, as vendors called for immediate intervention and a rollback of the new fees.
