By Sampat JMB Kpakimah
MONROVIA – Petty street vendors in Monrovia are protesting what they describe as persistent harassment by officers of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC). Traders allege that the frequent, often unpredictable confiscation of their goods is pushing their small businesses to the brink of collapse.
Vendors, who rely on daily sales to support their families, report that city police continue to seize their merchandise despite their attempts to comply with municipal trading regulations. Unise Teah, a single mother who sells boiled eggs, stated that the repeated seizures have stripped her of the capital needed to restock her business.
“We try to do the right thing, but our goods are still taken from us,” Teah said. “I am a single mother, and all of my children depend on the eggs I sell. If the City Police continue treating us this way, how are we supposed to survive?” Other traders detailed a pattern of intimidation that extends beyond simple regulation. Susan Wesseh, a vendor of auction goods, alleged that officers frequently demand bribes to release confiscated items.
“The police keep disturbing us,” Wesseh said. “Even when we buy goods to sell, the MCC police will arrest our goods and sometimes demand money before releasing them. Sometimes they charge amounts we cannot afford.” Wesseh further noted that vendors are trapped between aggressive enforcement and an unforgiving economy. She cited rising commodity prices and high taxes on importers as factors that erode profit margins.
When wholesalers pass these costs down to retailers, vendors find it nearly impossible to remain competitive.
While city authorities consistently order vendors to vacate the streets, the traders argue that the government has failed to provide viable alternatives.
“They keep telling us to leave the streets, and we are willing to move,” Wesseh said. “But when we go to the market buildings to look for space, the Liberia Marketing Association tells us there are no available spots.”
Adding to their struggle, vendors reported that wholesalers are increasingly engaging in retail sales, selling goods directly to consumers at prices lower than what retailers can offer. Grace Nehyor, another trader, explained that this creates an uneven playing field. “When wholesalers sell the same goods at cheaper retail prices, customers naturally buy from them instead of us,” Nehyor said.
City Corporation Silent
The vendors are now calling on the Government of Liberia and the MCC to review enforcement policies, ensure lawful conduct by city police, and prioritize the expansion of market facilities.
Repeated attempts to obtain an official response from the Monrovia City Corporation were unsuccessful.
Several scheduled meetings with MCC officials were also postponed. In a brief telephone conversation, the Corporation’s Deputy Director, Mr. Shama, questioned how the media had obtained his contact information.
He declined to comment on the allegations, stating that there are established protocols governing media interviews and that he was not in a position to speak on behalf of the Corporation at the time. As of press time, the Monrovia City Corporation had not issued an official response to the concerns raised by the vendors.
