The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MOPT) and the Liberia Business Registry (LBR) have jointly agreed to enforce a mandate for all registered businesses to obtain a P.O Box beginning October 1, 2021.
A communication from the office of the Deputy Minister for Operation, J. Mike Gonlehtuo, indicated, “All businesses, NGOs and institutions are advised to proceed to the Lock Box Office, located at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications on Carey and McDonald Streets, to obtain their application forms and regularize their status before the enforcement date. The Lock Box Office at the ministry will provide you detailed information on how to obtain your P.O. Box number.”
The communication further cautioned the public to contact the office of the lock Box for more details.
The communication, a copy of which is in the possession of the Hot Pepper, further indicates, “Failure to comply with this notice—to regularize or obtain a lock box number before October 1, 2021—the Liberia Business Registry (LBR) will not renew your business certificate until full compliance. We will appreciate your fullest support and cooperation. All are advised to take note and act accordingly.”
Two years ago, The Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah Sr., and the Deputy Minister for Administration, Cllr. Edward K. Goba, visited the Liberia Business Registry and discussed a way forward, which has strengthened the current decision for all businesses and institutions to obtain a P.O. Box number in the absence of a national physical address for easy communication.
All businesses and institutions will be expected to first obtain their P.O. Box number before applying to the Liberia business Registry (LBR) for their business certificate.
A caveat has been sent out that “businesses and institutions are further requested to proceed to the Lock Box Section, stationed within the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, for an application form and a G.T. Bank deposit slip for the payment of annual fees in order to obtain a P.O. Box number”.
The ministry outlined the steps to obtaining a P.O. Box: obtain an application form free of charge from the post office or its website (www.e-liberia.gov.lr), fill in and return the form to the post office, receive a GT Bank payment slip for lock box service, proceed to the GT Bank payment window at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications or any other GT Bank widow and make payment, take the duplicate copy of the payment slip to the Lock Box Section at the ministry for an official payment receipt, and take the duplicate bank slip along with the photocopy of the official receipt to the Lock Box Section for activation of a P.O. Box number.
After going through the formality, a key will be issued in the following categories: large and extra-large boxes for a large business, medium box for medium-sized business, and small box for small-sized business. The fee for a small box is US$40; medium box, US$50; large box, US$80; and extra-large, US$100.