By: Melvin Flomo
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Capitol Hill, Monrovia –The Liberian Senate has taken a decisive step toward promoting local entrepreneurship by mandating its Joint Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Commerce and Industry to investigate the implementation of Section 4.4 of the Small Business Empowerment Act of 2014.
The Senate’s action follows a formal communication from Gbarpolu County Senator Amara M. Konneh, who expressed concern over the government's continued failure to enforce the 25% public procurement quota designated for Liberian-owned Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Section 4.4 of the 2014 law requires that at least a quarter of all public procurement for goods and services be allocated to Liberian-owned MSMEs—a provision aimed at stimulating local economic growth, enhancing job creation, and building a resilient private sector.
In his June 20 communication to Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Senator Konneh noted that more than a decade since the law’s enactment, there is still no available public data or comprehensive reporting to determine compliance with the mandate.
“The absence of transparency, monitoring, and enforcement undermines the purpose of the legislation and may be depriving Liberian businesses of vital opportunities,” Konneh wrote.
He called on the Senate to demand that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) submit a detailed report addressing:
The total value and percentage of public procurement awarded to Liberian-owned MSMEs in the past five years;
A list of government institutions in compliance and those failing to meet the requirement;
The tracking and enforcement mechanisms currently in place;
Key implementation challenges; and
Recommendations for improving compliance and accountability.
Following deliberations, the Senate Plenary unanimously endorsed Senator Konneh’s request and referred the matter to its Joint Committees for investigation. The committees have been given two weeks to present findings and recommendations to the full Senate.
The move is seen as a critical step in assessing the government's commitment to supporting local businesses amid ongoing economic challenges.
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