The Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) has been re-admitted by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) since the outbreak of fourteen years civil crisis in Liberia.
Speaking during the official signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Cooperative Development Agency and the National Fishery and Aquaculture Authority on Friday September 27, 2024, Lwopo G. Kandakai, Registrar General for Cooperatives in Liberia, informed the country and the world that Liberia has been re-admitted into the International Cooperative Alliance—as it was before the fourteen years civil crisis. Liberia was a member of the alliance during the 80s, and “we want to be grateful to our President, His Excellency President Joseph N. Boakai, for giving us the opportunity to serve our country through the Cooperative Development Agency. This opportunity of Liberia being readmitted was due to our last visit in Ghana, where we discussed several issues, including Liberia coming back to be a member again of the international Cooperative Alliance (ICA).”
The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is a non- governmental cooperative organization founded in 1895 to unite, represent and serve cooperatives. Its headquarters is based in Brussels, Belgium, with four regional offices (Africa, Americas, Asian-Pacific and Europe), and eight global sectoral organizations (agriculture, banking, retail, fisheries, health, housing, insurance, and industry & services). Its Africa office is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
As an ICA member, a nation enjoys access to valuable information resources, global networking possibilities and much more. ICA ensures that the right policy environment exists to enable cooperatives to grow and prosper. It helps its members in their lobbying for new legislations.
As an ICA member, a nation enjoys the following benefits: reduced rates for registering on ICA’s online learning platform, and financial support. The ICA consist of a 20-member governing board, a General Assembly, four regions (one each for Africa, Europe, Asian-Pacific, and Americas), eight Sectoral Organizations and five thematic committees.
