The General Manager of Substantial Trade Group of Companies, Athanase Kintiga, has commended the Acting Director General of the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), Dan Torkamawon Saryee, for the remarkable improvements taking place within the institution.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, Mr. Kintiga lauded Mr. Sarye for his leadership style, which he said has brought a new level of transparency, accountability, and progress to the country’s cocoa sector.
“This is one of the best leadership teams I’ve seen at LACRA. The Acting Director General and his team, including his Deputies and Inspectors are doing a great job. When they visit your warehouse, they make sure things are in proper condition — there is no bias,” Kintiga said.
According to him, since Mr. Saryee took over the agency, massive improvements have been observed across the cocoa trading chain, with more farmers and traders now working in line with the new regulations and quality standards set by LACRA.
However, Kintiga was quick to point out that despite the progress, cocoa traders and exporters continue to face serious challenges, especially in relation to unstable prices on the international market.
“We buy cocoa from farmers based on the international market price. If the price drops, we lose; if it rises, we gain. This makes the business very difficult,” he explained.
He called on LACRA and the Ministry of Commerce to collaborate and set a fixed national buying price for cocoa that would protect both farmers and exporters from global market fluctuations.
“If the government can fix a standard price that everyone follows, it will help farmers and exporters. Everyone will know how much to buy and sell, and this will bring fairness to the trade,” he recommended.
Kintiga also highlighted the issue of export constraints, noting that Liberian cocoa exporters face challenges in establishing trust with international buyers due to the country’s relatively new participation in the global cocoa trade.
“Unlike Ghana or Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia is just starting. We are new in the business, and international buyers need trust and consistency. Sometimes, when prices fall or rise, it becomes difficult to meet contract obligations,” he said.
He noted that if the issue of price regulation is not properly addressed, Liberia’s cocoa market could remain unstable, leading to a loss of confidence among international buyers and negatively impacting the Country’s economy.
“If this price issue is not addressed, the cocoa sector will continue to fluctuate, which is not good for our economy. We pay a lot of taxes and fees in exporting, and when we fail to supply as contracted, we lose clients and business,” Kintiga cautioned.
The Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) is the government’s main agency responsible for regulating and promoting the trade of agricultural commodities, including cocoa, coffee, and palm oil. Since its establishment, the authority has worked to enhance compliance, product quality, and Liberia’s competitiveness in the global market.
