Rédaction Africa Links 24 with New Dawn
Published on 2024-03-27 01:40:00
Two business groups in Liberia, the Fula Business Association and the National Customs Brokers Association of Liberia (NCBAL), have expressed their dissatisfaction with a third-party engagement charge of 1.2% on imported commodities imposed by Metech Scientific. They described it as unfair and an additional burden on businesses in the country.
The Fula Business Association president, Mr. Mohammed Barry, revealed that Metech Scientific introduced the 1.2% charge in 2021, which was later raised to 3%, a move that was rejected by the business community. He highlighted that despite collecting the 1.2% charge for over two years, the company has failed to comply with World Trade Organization (WTO) requirements such as installing an up-to-date documentary scanning machine and constructing warehouses to store goods.
Mr. Barry emphasized that the lack of infrastructure development by Metech Scientific, even after collecting funds, has created challenges for businesses, especially in their dealings with BIVAC. He criticized the prolonged processing time of two to three weeks due to the company being the sole recipient of documents, which goes against the Government of Liberia’s three-day maximum processing requirement.
In response, Mr. Barry called on President Joseph Nyumah Boakai to intervene and address the issues raised by the business community. He suggested that the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) should either maintain Metech or revert to using Customs for processing imported goods.
Adding to the grievances expressed at the joint press conference, Mr. Morris Kiatamba, the Secretary of the National Customs Brokers Association of Liberia, highlighted the negative impact of third-party arrangements on government revenue. He argued that the outsourced role of Metech Scientific by the LRA places an additional burden on businesses and overlooks the Ministry of Commerce’s responsibilities.
Mr. Kiatamba advocated for the removal of third-party arrangements and urged the government to follow global standards in trade transactions to align with WTO guidelines. He also raised concerns about the exclusion of the legal tender for transactions with shipping lines in Liberia, which he described as a technical barrier to trade that requires government intervention.
Overall, both business groups called for a reevaluation of the third-party engagement charge imposed by Metech Scientific and urged the Government of Liberia to prioritize the interests of local businesses and adhere to international trade standards. Their collective plea reflects the challenges faced by businesses in the country and the need for strategic reforms to enhance trade operations and minimize unnecessary financial burdens.
Read the original article on The Newdawn Liberia
