By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, January 16, 2026: Gbarpolu County Senator Amarah M. Konneh voiced robust criticism towards Liberia’s ruling Unity Occasion, accusing the regime of neglecting the urgent “bread-and-butter” points that have an effect on on a regular basis Liberians, particularly these working within the casual sector
Konneh questioned the effectiveness of the federal government’s present insurance policies geared toward supporting Liberia’s casual financial system, which encompasses practically 68% of the nation’s labor pressure.
Talking in Plenary on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Sen. Konneh highlighted the day by day struggles confronted by market ladies, petty merchants, motorcyclists, block makers, tailors, mechanics, and numerous others who kind the spine of Liberia’s financial system.
He emphasised that, regardless of their very important position, these hardworking Liberians typically function with out authorized safety, construction, or satisfactory entry to alternatives assured by regulation.
He believes that the reality is uncomfortable and simple, warning that the nation is dropping management of financial sectors explicitly reserved for Liberians beneath the Liberianization Act, resembling petty buying and selling, small retail companies, transportation, auto restore, block making, and bakeries.
He attributed this loss to not an absence of will or functionality amongst Liberians, however to the federal government’s failure to implement present legal guidelines and supply significant assist.
The Senator reminded his colleagues that these are on a regular basis companies that feed households and maintain communities, but in lots of components of the nation, international nationals now dominate these areas.
He additional argued that the international dominance just isn’t as a result of Liberians are unwilling or lazy, however as a result of the State has did not implement its personal legal guidelines, disclosing that enforcement is fragmented, market governance is weak, harassment is frequent, whereas the individuals are being pushed out of their very own financial system.
In response to those challenges, Senator Konneh proposed the “Casual Economic system Growth and Safety Act.” This new legislative framework goals to modernize and strengthen the rights of Liberians within the casual financial system and make present legal guidelines extra operational and efficient.
‘’This should change, colleagues. At the moment, I’m calling for a brand new legislative framework entitled “The Casual Economic system Growth and Safety Act.” This framework will modernize, strengthen, and operationalize the rights that Liberians have already got beneath present regulation.’’ He acknowledged.
Senator Konneh acknowledged that the Act will acknowledge the casual financial system as a professional sector of nationwide significance, implement the 26 enterprise actions reserved solely for Liberians beneath the Liberianization Act, and set up a unified registration and citizenship verification system.
‘’Create designated buying and selling zones with correct sanitation, safety, and order; Set up a framework to arrange sector associations, set requirements, and provide a pathway to formalization; Shield Liberians from harassment, extortion, and arbitrary confiscation of products; Coordinate enforcement among the many Ministries of Commerce, Immigration, Native Authorities, and the Liberia Nationwide Police; and Present entry to microfinance, abilities coaching, and enterprise growth assist.’’ He concluded.
Whereas Senator Konneh’s proposal has been praised by some as a needed step towards empowering Liberians, critics argue that it could merely replicate earlier insurance policies, such because the Liberianization Coverage, which have did not ship outcomes.
Some pundits counsel that, quite than introducing new laws, higher effort ought to be made to make sure the efficient implementation and enforcement of present legal guidelines. -Edited by Othello B. Garblah.
