By: Varney Dukuly
Monrovia: The Government of the Republic of Ghana has offered to provide technical assistance to the Government of Liberia in developing regulatory standards aimed at fostering the palm industry as Liberia seeks to enhance value addition in the palm industry.
The offer of the Ghanaian Government was announced through the Ghanaian Standards Authority when the Director General of the National Bureau of Concessions (NBC), Atty. Edwin Dennis, made the request previously.
The establishment of the regulatory standards in Liberia is aimed at ensuring compliance and improve the participation of local community residents in the value addition process of the Palm industry.
In making the offer on Tuesday, February 12, 2023, the Acting Director General of the Ghanaian Standards Authority, Mr. Stephen Y. Mambo, informed the Liberian delegation on a WFP sponsored study tour that the Ghanaian Standards Authority will work with a Liberian technical team to develop an MOU for the implementation of the technical cooperation between the Ghanaian Standards Authority and the relevant Liberian sister institution.
In accepting the offer, Director Dennis of the NBC informed the GSA of Ghana that the Administration of President George Weah is in the process of completing the legal formalities of establishing a full fledge Standard Authority.
Director Dennis, in an interview Tuesday with this paper said, the move will provide alternative livelihood for young people in the affected communities.
“One of the take-away is that, we can adapt the same measure to provide jobs for our people by giving them alternative livelihood. The operations of poultry farms, agro programs; community and the company working together, among others will go a long way in creating jobs for Liberians.
He said the technical assistance that Ghana has agreed to provide is an opportunity that Liberians should utilize to improve regulatory standards.
He stressed that he would inform the appropriate agencies of the Liberian Government in order take advantage of the offer of the Ghanaian Standards Authority.
There are few counties that have highlighted for work in progress. The NBC boss named the counties as Maryland, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, Bong and Grand Kru.
Also making remarks at meeting, the WFP Liberia local content technician, Mr. Michael Vawah, who is also on the study tour delegation, pledged the support of the WFP to contribute to enhancement of the capacity of the Librarian Standard Agency when it is fully established by the Government of Liberia.
