The President of the Liberia Scrap Dealers Association(LSDA) has promised to revamp LSDA across Liberia.
President Ayouba Kamara stated that the association intends to work with the new government, headed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung, in their vision to build a new Liberia.
President Kamara made the statement over the weekend when he was inaugurated as president of the association for the next four years. the occasion was held at LSDA’s head office at New Georgia’s intersection on the Japan Freeway.
“LSDA is an institution that represents and speaks on behalf of Liberia’s scrapping communities and their associated businesses, and as your president I will keep on the advocacy for the common good of the Liberian scrappers, who rely on the scrap industry as the only source of work to take care of their families and lovedones,” President Kamara assured.
He noted that from LSDA’s inception in 2005 up to his first inauguration about two years ago, the organizationdid not have an official office, but now it has a national headquarters.
President Kamara promised to engage the Inter-Agency Scrap Regulatory Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, whose office is responsible for coordination and enforcement of scrap regulations in Liberia.
According to him, under the past government, headed by former President George Manneh Weah, the Minister of Mines and Energy failed to look into the prices of scrap in the country.
The LSDA boss indicated that the scrap industry in Liberia will abide the rule of laws governing the sector and assures that nobody working in the scrap business violates any policy or regulation governing the acquisition and processing of scrap in Liberia.
He maintained that his administration will seek a cordial relationship with the inter-agency regulatory body and the security apparatus as a matter of policy to respect all regulations.
“Upon the new minister and deputies of the Ministry of Mines and Energy taking office, my leadership will immediately engage the minister to exclude all nonmembers of the Inter-Agency Scrap Regulatory Committee to avoid any interference into scrap matters that are not dedicated to them by status,” President Kamara stated.
He asserted that the association will look into all public policies of government that are hurting the scrap’seconomic and general interests of the common people,who rely on scrapping for their daily needs and survival of their families.
He explained that the association will continue to develop new programs that will strengthen members professionally through education, training and workshops to face the challenges in the industry.
“We have a strategic priority to position ourselves as essential tools for good governance, administrative transparency and democratic accountability,” President Kamara emphasized.
The inauguration brought together county coordinators of LSDA, including officials from the ministries of Mines and Energy and Justice as well as representatives of other business associations.
