Multiple sources inside the Ministry of Commerce have confirmed that Sethi Brothers Inc. is manufacturing substandard steel rods and other building materials including zinc.
An independent lab test report conducted in Ghana proved that Sethi’s Steel failed to pass the basic safety benchmarks according to multiple MOCI employees.
Minister Magdalene E. Dagoseh has been accused of covering up the findings of the report.
Allegations of Bribery and Neglect:
“When Minister Dagoseh took over the Ministry, she went straight to Sethi and collected money, along with Senator Prince Moye, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means and Finance,” one senior ministry staffer who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged.
According to the sources, Sethi Brothers and another company producing zinc were implicated in the report.
However, the findings were “trashed” after bribes were allegedly paid.
“People are using those steel rods to build homes across Liberia. Years from now, some of those buildings will collapse. They’re not safe for construction,” the source said.
Our insider source described the Commerce Ministry as a ministry in freefall with no strategic direction, no oversight, and rising internal dysfunction.
“She’s not focused on the work. Instead, she spends her time tracking who’s talking about her. She’s completely out of touch,” one employee said.
No Reports, No Inspections, No Transparency:
Insiders say the Ministry has not conducted nationwide inspections in over six months, a lapse that could allow expired or dangerous products to flood the market unchecked.
“We’ve failed to submit our first, second, and third quarterly reports. Our strategic plan hasn’t even been finalized. Everything is stalled.”
Sources also allege that Minister Dagoseh is collecting $300 to $1,000 in bribes per Import Permit Declaration (IPD) for frozen food imports.
The payments are allegedly funneled through a man referred to only as Ponpon, a former aide under ex-Minister Amin Modad.
“Any document related to frozen goods goes through Ponpon. He collects the cash before the Minister approves the IPD.”
Iron Ore to Steel–How It’s Supposed to Work
Experts explain that iron ore is the essential raw material used to manufacture construction-grade steel products-like the rods currently under scrutiny.
Here’s how the process should work:
Extraction & Preparation
Iron ore (hematite or magnetite) is mined, crushed, and refined to remove impurities.
Smelting
The ore is combined with coke and limestone, and then smelted in a blast furnace. This creates molten iron (also called pig iron).
Refinement
The molten iron is processed in a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) or Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) to remove impurities and control the carbon content, producing steel.
Alloying & Casting
Elements like chromium or nickel may be added to produce different steel types. The molten steel is then cast into billets, rods, or sheets for commercial use.
Iron ore → pig iron → steel. This process is the backbone of global construction—but only when quality control is strictly enforced.
In this case, however, the final steel products from Sethi Brothers failed testing, yet are still widely distributed in Liberia’s construction market.
A Leadership Vacuum at the Ministry:
MoCI currently has four deputy ministers: Administration, Trade Services, Industry, and Small Business Administration. But insiders say Minister Dagoseh is not working with any of them.
“She sees her own deputies as threats. One has already been removed. The rest are sidelined.”
Some employees claim the Minister makes regular visits to Samuel A. Stevquoah at the Executive Mansion with alleged “gifts,” while real policy implementation is abandoned.
“She’s not negotiating with our international partners—the WTO, UNDP, IMF, ADB, none of them. This is a trade ministry. You need someone who understands global economics and can represent Liberia.”
A Forgotten Report
Before former Minister Amin Modad left office, MoCI had conducted tests on zinc from Jetty Trading and steel rods from Sethi Brothers. Liberia’s lab lacked international recognition, so the materials were sent to Ghana.
“The Ghana lab confirmed: the steel and zinc being produced here were far below standard. That should have triggered immediate action. But instead, Minister Dagoseh buried the findings.”
Boakai’s Dilemma
Sources say President Joseph Boakai is planning a high-level meeting with the Ministry. But insiders claim Minister Dagoseh is trying to avoid scrutiny by sending a deputy, a former UNDP economist, to represent her.
“That man understands economic policy. But why is the Minister dodging the meeting? It’s clear she can’t defend her record.”
Employees of the Ministry of Commerce are urging President Boakai to prioritize competence, integrity, and public safety, before the scandal escalates, or worse, before buildings begin to collapse due to faulty steel.
“This shouldn’t be an achievement for anyone,” one staffer concluded. “Allowing market competition isn’t a favor, it’s a requirement under the World Trade Organization (WTO).
But right now, a few connected importers are dominating the system, and prices aren’t dropping. This Ministry is failing.”
