Skip to main content

Liberia: Prices Remain High Despite Govt’s Move to Cut Tax on Over 2,000 Major Commodities



The decision was taken by the Government of Liberia to reduce the tariff on chicken feet, pig feet, vegetable oil, and mosquito coil that are on a list of 2,000 commodities affected by the decision is yielding little or no impact as prices continue to increase.
President George Weah on May 24 of this year gave a three-day ultimatum to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) to reduce tariff on 2,000 commodities.

The move was to ease the economic burden on ordinary Liberians, who buy these items on a daily basis.
But the intention behind the reduction is still far from been met as the price of these items still remain the same or increasing day-by-day.
At the same time, the government is yet to release a full list of the 2,000 commodities it claimed that the tariff reduction affected.
Some Liberians are blaming the situation on the devaluation of the Liberian dollar against the US dollars, while others are arguing that the government’s decision to cut tariff without assessing the impact was a misstep.
Speaking to FrontPage Africa, a cross-section of Liberian business people in the Red Light, Duala and Gardnersville markets expressed frustration about the increased in prices of commodities that tariff cut affected.
Some marketers called on the Weah-led government to put “words into action” by demanding major importers to adhere to government’s mandate.
Abraham Mulbah, a shop owner in the Duala market, complained about the difficulties he now goes through on a daily basis since the reduction of the tariff was made public by the Ministry of Information.
He said customers keep arguing with him, complaining why he is still selling at the same price when the tariffs have been reduced.
“Every day my customers keep asking me about the price of things that tariff was reduced on, when I tell them it is the same, some of them find it hard to believe it,” explains Mulbah.
“They feel that we are keeping the price up to make extra profit. But the truth is that nothing had really dropped; we are buying at the same price we used to before the pronouncement by the government.”
Mulbah suggests that in order to bring stability to the business sector the government must enforce the idea behind the tariff reduction.
      
Kebbeh Kollie is a retailer of imported chicken and chicken feet at the Chicken Soup Factory market along the Somalia Drive renamed Japan Freeway.
Her customers have reduced since the tariff reduction on the 2,000 commodities was announced by the government.
Kebbeh says some of her customers have changed their diet because of the high price of chicken, chicken feet and pig feet.
“The number of customers that are used to receive during a day’s time has drop, in fact, most of my customers prefer buying fish instead of the chicken feet or the pig feet,” she said.
“If this thing continues some of us will have to change our business in order to survive in this pro-poor regime.”
In the busy Red Light Market District, Hawa Morris, owner of a shop, is also feeling the pinch of the tariff cut, and she wants the government to engage importers of these commodities to ascertain the cause of the unchanged prices despite the reduction of taxes.
“The government needs to sit down with these importers and discuss the issues still behind the higher price after the announcement has been made on the reduction of tariff on items like vegetable oil, mosquito coil, chicken feet and other goods,” she said.
“Because we thought it was the higher taxes but it seems to be something else, they need to tell us as business people and also as a citizen of this country.”
Mohammed Sesay, a petty trader in the Red Light Market, says the high prices of commodities that tariff was reduced on is an early sign that the George Weah-led government is not in control of the economy just like the previous government.
“If this government will sit and allow importers, who are mainly foreigners, to still sell goods at a higher price after tariff have been reduced on them, then they do not mean well for this country,” Sesay claims.
“It is a clear indication that this government is not controlling the economy of this country as it appears to be. So, for this government to fulfill her pro-poor agenda they need to really address the higher cost of goods on the market especially the ones tariff was drop on.”
Vambah Duckly, another retailer in Duala Market, alleges that the tariff reduction was only intended to enrich the importers and not the petty traders or the ordinary citizens.
“The tariff reduction is not having any effect positively on the ordinary citizens as it supposed to be instead it is those foreign importers who are benefiting from the tariff reduction,” he said.
“So, this government headed by President George Weah needs to derive measures to ensure the survivor of Liberian businesses who does not have the financial strength to compete with the foreigners”.
Report by Jackson F. Kanneh  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

President George Weah's One Day National Forum Successfully Attended by 26 Political Parties

On Thursday, August 8, 2018, President George Weah had a sit down with 26 political parties of Liberia.  The meeting aimed at advancing ideals that promote the spirit of national unity and political tolerance between opposition political parties and the government.  ANC, LP and UP attended the meeting as a team. According to Deputy Minister Eugene L. Fahngon, Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs at Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism, all 26 political parties attended and participated from start to finish.  Even though, social media was buzzing about AB Dillion walking out of the meeting, he walked out as an individual and not a political party, "the invitation was extended to political parties and not to individuals," Minister Fahngon stated in his live video.  Each political party gave ideals and recommendations, which made the meeting a great success.  According to  Deputy Minister Fahngon, "there will be future engagements as such.&quo

Liberia: Top 7 Iconic Music Videos Directed by Jackie Russ

​By Robert Serge Saint-Pe Alex Nyenga, alias, Jackie Russ has enjoyed a seven-year stint as a videographer which has put him behind the camera of numerous memorable Liberian music videos, earning him several nominations and awards. He has again proven himself as a top-notch video director over the past months, which has landed him nominations for the 2021 MTN – Liberian Music Awards (MLMA) for Best Music Videographer and the 2021 Liberian Entertainment Awards (LEA) for Video Director of The Year.  Even if Jackie Russ is not a familiar face, he is definitely a household name who has worked with many top Liberian artists and influential celebrities. One of his unhighlighted gesture is that he gifted Caroline M. Moore, better known as MC Caro with her first ever music video for her song “Bring Our Money Back” in 2018. Here is a look at the top seven iconic music videos directed by Jackie Russ. 7. Christoph Ft. Margas – Hold Your Polaruh (2016) “Hold Your Polaruh” was directed by Christoph

Top Five Liberian Wedding Songs

Check out these hot songs for an awesome Liberian wedding.  From the first dance to the grand march, these Liberian songs will set the mood just right for a wedding night of good time and celebration.   Kizzy W - Wait Nah: Perfect for a first dance on your wedding day  Spoil You With Love by Joseph Dean, KZee and Marvelous MC is already a popular song in Liberian weddings, perfect to march into the your reception hall.  Simple Mistake by Friday the Cellphone Man: A wedding is not a Liberian wedding without a grand march and this is the perfect song for a grand march.  Kamah by DenG: After the formality, it's time to party, this is a dance song and it's about love, a man bragging about the love he has for his woman.  Slow it Down by Benji Cavallia: A love song that you can dance to, a man bragging that he will do anything for his love.