An independent investigation conducted by the Media for Consumer Protection has established that ATCO, which is an importer in Clara Town, Bushrod Island, is involved in an act of economic sabotage which undermines the huge investment in the poultry industry of the country.
It can be recalled that President Joseph Boakai recently toured a US$26 million chicken poultry industry project in Careysburg, Montserrado County, a national initiative expected to foster economic growth and reduce unemployment. Later, the President also toured another poultry farm, the Liberian-American poultry farm in Clay, Bomi County, which has about 525,000 chickens and produces 500,000 eggs a day with the creation of nearly 500 direct jobs.
These two major investments in the poultry industry of the country are a breakthrough in the agricultural sector as President Boakai leads the campaign to revive food production and reduce dependency on food importation.
Despite these positive initiatives by the government to ensure local production for economic growth and food security, ATCO has engaged in unscrupulous business practice to undermine the government efforts.
According to the Media for Consumer Protection investigation, ATCO illegally imported a 40-foot container of chicken eggs into the country recently, supplying the same on the Liberian market, thereby invading taxes.
The media advocacy group believes that the action of ATCO is intentional and has the potential to undermine local production and discourage investment in the local poultry industry.
The media group calls on the government to launch an investigation into this situation involving ATCO and institute measures to protect local industries against the unscrupulous importation of locally manufactured products.
