By Fanta L. Keita
MONROVIA, June 10 (LINA) – The Director General of the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) Dan T. Saryee, has vowed to protect the interest of women that are involved in palm oil trading within the country.
The disclosure was made when he held an engagement meeting with women selling oil palm at the Kuwait Market in Duala, pledging robust protection for their businesses and livelihoods, a LACRA release issued Wednesday, June 3, 2026, said.
At the meeting, the agency Boss stressed that “LACRA is fully committed to ensuring that women involved in the oil palm trade are protected at all times.”
At the same time, he announced a new initiative requiring all palm oil sellers across various markets nationwide to register with the authority. “This registration process aims to eliminate a major industry challenge: the infiltration of contaminated or dirty oil into local markets.”
In addition, Mr. Saryee disclosed that for months now the mixing of contaminated oil with high-quality palm oil has threatened the integrity of local market women, leaving them vulnerable to false accusations of selling bad products.
Henceforth, he noted that registration will act as a safeguard, ensuring product traceability and restoring consumer trust.
“LACRA wants to ensure that women involved with the sale of palm oil are protected at all times,” LACRA Bosss stated, “Registration will give assurance that no dirty oil is brought to your market to mix with your good oils.”
To further support the traders, the LACRA DG announced that the agency will provide branded umbrellas to protect the women from the sun and rain while they do business.
He also encouraged the market women to form cooperatives, noting that organizing formally would allow them to speak with one unified voice when advocating for their interests.
For their part, the Kuwait Market Women expressed gratitude to LACRA for the outreach and the practical support, adding that they are willing to collaborate with LACRA.
However, they also raised pressing security concerns regarding cross-border trade, asking for protection against illegal business operators smuggling contaminated oil across the border from Sierra Leone.