…Cross-border women cry on government
By G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
In a heartfelt appeal to the government, women engaged in cross-border trade in Liberia have called for the establishment of proper storage facilities for perishable goods, highlighting the financial toll of inadequate infrastructure. During a gathering on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Central Bank’s launch of the National Financial Education Program and the Pan African Settlement System, these women expressed their frustrations over the loss of thousands of dollars due to the rapid spoilage of their goods.
“Mr. President, we need help. We don’t have sufficient facilities to store our goods that we bring in. We are losing thousands of dollars daily,” one trader lamented, encapsulating the dire situation faced by many in the community.
The gathering served as a platform for the women, in collaboration with the Liberia Market Association, to specifically request enhancements at Omega Market. They proposed that the government not only improve storage facilities but also transfer management of the market to them, asserting that current storage costs are prohibitively high and further exacerbating their financial struggles.
“We want to go to Omega Market. Please give us Omega with improved facilities so we can move there and save our goods,” they pleaded, emphasizing the urgent need for a sustainable solution.
Additionally, the women raised concerns regarding their interactions with banks, where securing loans has become increasingly burdensome. They reported that the process is fraught with challenges, including the demand for tips from loan officers, which adds to their financial strain. “Bankers are giving us money, but we are not educated like college graduates. The prints on the loan agreement are so small that we can barely read them, and what we sign, we don’t fully understand. Sometimes, those in the banks who help us get loans take a share of the money because we have to tip them,” they explained.
In response to these concerns, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai assured the women that the government would indeed facilitate their request for Omega Market. He reiterated the original intent behind the market’s establishment, which was to bolster the efforts of women traders in contributing to the national economy.
“We are going to give you back Omega; that was the concept, and we are not going to deviate from it,” President Boakai stated. He emphasized the government’s commitment to improving infrastructure, including roads, to enhance business operations for these women.
The president’s assurances provide a glimmer of hope for the women, who have long faced economic challenges exacerbated by inadequate facilities and financial barriers. As they advocate for improved storage solutions and fair banking practices, their collective voice underscores the critical role of women in the nation’s economic landscape and the urgent need for government support in empowering them.
