-Boosts County Operations with Vehicle Donation
By Sampat JMB Kpakimah
MONROVIA – A major compliance tour by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) in District #10 has led to the shutdown of multiple bakeries operating in what officials describe as dangerously unsanitary conditions, while also exposing frustrations among petty traders over regulatory enforcement and bureaucratic hurdles.
On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, a high-level inspection team from the Ministry, led by Inspector General Miantar Gbatu, conducted a follow-up tour in the Old Road community. The operation, which represents the second phase of an ongoing city-wide compliance check, revealed that at least two bakeries were producing bread in environments riddled with filth and neglect, posing a direct threat to public health.
Inspector General Gbatu, visibly disturbed by the conditions, ordered the immediate closure of the offending facilities. He stressed that they would remain shuttered until they undergo a complete transformation to meet the minimum standards required for safe food production.
“These facilities will not be allowed to operate until they fully comply with health and safety regulations,” Gbatu stated firmly. “We are dealing with food that is consumed daily by both adults and children. Any level of negligence in its production poses a direct threat to public health.”
One bakery, which had reportedly been in operation for over a decade, was singled out for its particularly poor state. Gbatu detailed the infractions, mandating a complete overhaul of the premises. This includes replacing contaminated equipment—such as a mixing board covered in flies, murky water storage containers, and rusted baking pans—along with improving the structural integrity of the building and ensuring proper sanitation protocols are in place before a reopening can even be considered.
Gbatu warned that the Ministry is moving beyond isolated actions, announcing a strengthened partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ministry of Health, and the Liberia National Police (LNP) to ensure strict enforcement of sanitation and safety standards nationwide. He argued that such negligence is a significant contributor to the country’s high rate of preventable disease.
“It is unacceptable that businesses entrusted with feeding the public would operate in such dangerous conditions,” he said. “This is one of the factors contributing to the high rate of disease in our country.”
Like Gbatu, Mark Jackson, the community vice chair, confirmed that the unsanitary practices were a long-standing issue. He noted that the situation had previously been even worse, requiring intervention from local sanitation teams just to clean the surrounding environment.
“The bakeries in this community have been in the constant habit of keeping their places in this condition,” Jackson said. “What the Inspector General and his team saw is even an improvement from what it used to be.”
While expressing gratitude to the government for the decisive action, Jackson pledged the community’s full support in ensuring compliance moving forward. He called on business owners to take responsibility for the safety of the food they sell to a public already burdened by widespread sickness.
Beyond the bakeries, the MOCI team also targeted shops and stores for various administrative violations, including failure to register a business, failure to renew registration, and price gouging. The enforcement action, however, has brought to light the challenges faced by small business owners trying to operate within the system.
Alphonsus David, a Liberian petty shop owner whose business was locked for a rice pricing violation, shared his frustrations. According to the Ministry, David was charging an inflated price for rice.
In an exclusive interview, David explained the economic pressures that led to his pricing. He stated that after purchasing a bag of rice for $14.00 USD from a Fulani trader, he was forced to pay an additional $7.50 for transportation. He argued that this cost, which he absorbed, makes it impossible to sell at the government’s mandated price without taking a loss.
While commending the government’s overall efforts, he pleaded for a more holistic approach that considers the realities of doing business.
“Yes, anything the government says I will do…I will lock my shop. I know the government is doing its work, but I buy the rice [for] 14 dollars yesterday from Fulani and paid 7.50 per bag for transportation. Now how do you expect me to charge the rice?” he questioned.
Adding another layer to the discourse on regulatory challenges, a woman who wished to remain unidentified raised concerns about the process of obtaining business registration documents from the ministry itself. Speaking to the Women Voices reporter, she described the process as tedious and prone to corruption, which undermines the very compliance the Ministry seeks to enforce.
“When you register your business it is not easy to get your documents. They will be drilling you in the process, sometimes just to ask you for money to fast-track your papers, something you have already paid for,” she lamented. “They really need to work on that; they are suffering us.” The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has reaffirmed its commitment to routine inspections, urging all food producers and retailers to adhere strictly to established guidelines or face stiff penalties, including closure.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) has donated a fleet of vehicles and motorbikes to county inspectors. The move is aimed at enhancing oversight, improving efficiency, and ensuring that the Ministry’s work is felt beyond the capital. The handover ceremony took place on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the Ministry’s headquarters. Commerce Minister Magdelene Dagoseh led the initiative, citing the need to equip inspectors with the tools necessary to reach businesses and markets in even the most remote areas.
She acknowledged that the lack of service centers in some counties has long been a barrier to effective enforcement. “Some counties do not have service centers, so the motorbikes will enhance their work and enable them to track and report on time,” Minister Dagoseh said. She added that the decision was also influenced by the rising cost of gasoline, explaining that the new transportation will ease the financial burden on employees and help them report to work consistently.
The Minister expressed optimism about the future of the ministry, particularly with expectations of a more supportive budget in the coming fiscal year. She urged the inspectors to remain proactive and committed to their responsibilities. “Now is the time to do what is required of the ministry,” she emphasized. In an exclusive interview with Women Voices, Minister Dagoseh addressed public perceptions of her leadership, acknowledging that much of her work has gone unnoticed because she prefers a低调 approach.
“I have been working behind closed doors. I am not the flamboyant type, which is why my work is not always visible,” she stated. However, she signaled a shift toward greater transparency and impact, noting that the donation is part of a broader strategy to bring the government’s services and oversight closer to the people. She described decentralization as a key priority of her administration, stressing that the government must be effectively represented across all fifteen counties.
Minister Dagoseh issued a stern warning to the recipients that the vehicles and bikes remain government property and must be used strictly for official purposes. She assured that mechanisms have been put in place for proper maintenance, including regular servicing and fueling, to ensure the assets are preserved. The donated items include four pickup trucks, one jeep, one bus for ministry staff, and 20 motorbikes—six of which are Yamaha bikes specifically designated for county coordinators.
Also speaking at the event, the Ministry’s Inspector General, Miantar Gbatu, highlighted the logistical nightmares that have long plagued the inspection division. He revealed that inspectors have often been forced to use personal funds just to carry out their duties, a situation he described as untenable.
“You cannot be a county coordinator without the necessary tools to perform your duties,” Gbatu noted.
He described the donation as a landmark investment that will significantly strengthen weekly operations, particularly in hard-to-reach regions like Sinoe, River Cess, and Grand Kru, where a lack of mobility has previously crippled service delivery. Gbatu warned that strict penalties have been established for any misuse of the assets, including immediate recall to the central office or outright withdrawal.
“I see some ministries without such assets. Take these as your own and maintain them properly so we can present a good image as an inspection unit,” he cautioned.
Receiving the items on behalf of his colleagues, Regional Coordinator Inspector L. Dawoda Massaquio expressed profound gratitude to Minister Dagoseh for what he called an unprecedented investment in the division. While praising the initiative, he appealed for even more resources, specifically requesting additional pickup trucks to serve all regional coordinators effectively, given the vast and challenging terrain of their jurisdictions.
Massaquio pledged that the donation would not go to waste, assuring the Minister and the public that inspectors are now better positioned to intensify their work, especially in communities that have long been neglected. “This will help us reach hard-to-go areas,” he said, promising a renewed commitment to enforcing commercial regulations across the country. The ceremony was attended by county inspectors, staff of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and other officials, including Deputy Director for Business Registry, Lawrence Karnley.
