Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph N. Boakai has strongly warned against what he dubbed “hidden inflation” and widespread consumer shortchanging, as the Liberia Standards Authority (LiSA) opened a new facility to enhance quality assurance and consumer protection. Additionally, herequested that national standards be enforced more strictly.
President Boakai emphasized that standards must go beyond policy discussions and become a useful tool to protect common Liberians, particularly market women and consumers who are frequently ignorant of how they are exploited. The Liberian leader made the remark during the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, February 19, 2026, which was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, European Union partners, development organizations, and former ministers of commerce.
“The issue of standard is very practical and we need to make it known. Even the people in the markets are being cheated every day due to hidden inflation and lack of attention to quality and quantity,” he declared.
Boakai also provided instances of misleading packaging and fake goods that imitate well-known brands in order to trick consumers. He recalled a once-well-known brand of toilet paper called “Living 60,” which later showed up in similar packaging with slightly different names like “Govern 60” and “Irving 60,” confusing unwary customers.
“Sometimes it looks the same but not the same, describing the practice as hidden inflation, where product size or quality is reduced while prices remain the same,” he said.
In addition, the Liberian leader voiced concerns regarding the sale of fuel, construction materials, and agricultural products, casting doubt on whether Liberians consistently receive the quantity and quality for which they paid. He noted that although weighing bridges and fuel tankers may not always be properly calibrated, the durability standards of the steel rods and aluminum roofing sheets used nowadays are often not met.
Boakai “I used to work for the LPRC, and during that time, some tankers were rigged up such that petroleum might sink to the bottom and people could profit from it. This highlighted the financial losses brought on by inadequate regulation.”
He also stressed that low standards have wider national repercussions, such as building collapses, shoddy road development, and goods that aren’t competitive in global markets. The President added, “Standards are very important to industries. They are very important to our economic life. If we are to integrate with other countries, we must take measurement and quality seriously.”
President Boakai stated that standards enforcement must be applied with the same rigor to public works and commerce as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) system, where students must fulfill predetermined requirements in order to graduate. Boakai commended development partners for their support of Liberia’s standard infrastructure, but he issued a warning that the new LiSA building’s completion shouldn’t be merely symbolic.
“It is not just the building. It is what goes on here and what goes on after today,” he said.
The President entrusted LiSA leadership and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry the responsibility of keeping a close eye on imported and domestically manufactured items, recalibration of gasoline pumps and weighing equipment, and regular monitoring. “Don’t think that people will just buy. Consumers look for faults. If a product does not meet their standard, they will not buy it,” the President warned.
However, he urged vigilance across sectors, from food safety to construction and fuel distribution, noting that maintaining standards protects consumers, strengthens industries, and enhances Liberia’s competitiveness in the global market. “I will be happier if we can maintain the standard. So that we become part of the international community,” Boakai narrated.
