By: George C Flomo
MONROVIA – The Director General of the Liberia Standards Authority (LiSA), Hon. Stephen Y. Mambu, on Tuesday reaffirmed the Authority’s dedication to improving Liberia’s trade competitiveness, health and safety standards, and national development goals through the operationalization of the Liberia Standards Act.
Speaking as a special guest at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing, Mambu expressed appreciation to Information Minister Hon. Jerolinmek Matthew Piah and the MICAT family for granting LiSA the platform to engage the Liberian public and international community.
“Permit me to say, Honorable Minister, that your work at MICAT epitomizes a new breed of transformative leadership. Thank you for all you have done thus far,” Mambu stated.
The Director General emphasized that LiSA’s participation in the press briefing marked a new phase in the institution’s journey to deliver effective services to the Liberian people.
He noted that LiSA’s reemergence aligns with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s vision for transformation under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
Mambu outlined the significance of the Liberia Standards Act, which was passed in 2022 and operationalized in 2024. The Act established the Liberia Standards Authority as the national standards body responsible for setting and maintaining quality infrastructure through conformity assessments, testing, inspection, certification, and metrology.
According to him, the passage and implementation of the Act were driven by the realization that Liberia, like other West African countries, must meet regional and international standards to actively participate in global trade.
He said the initiative was widely supported by the private sector, development partners, ECOWAS, and institutions like the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, Liberia Business Association, the Manufacturers Association of Liberia, and the National Consumer Association.
“We are grateful for the support from both the private and public sectors, especially the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority and the Technical Working Group on Codex and Food Safety,” Mambu added.
The Director General emphasized that the Standards Act provides the necessary legal and institutional framework for building a sound national quality infrastructure (NQI) that supports industry, trade, environmental protection, and consumer safety.
He further explained that LiSA plays several key roles, including facilitating trade through standards, metrology, and conformity assessments; supporting SMEs and Liberian industries to improve productivity and create jobs; promoting sustainable production systems and environmental protection; enhancing healthcare and consumer protection, and enabling equitable distribution of national resources.
Mambu disclosed that LiSA’s functions include monitoring and contributing to international standards development, raising public awareness, coordinating training, developing national standards, assisting regulators in drafting technical regulations, and complying with WTO requirements.
LiSA also provides critical conformity assessment services such as testing, calibration, and certification, which are essential for ensuring product quality and promoting fair trade. Its role as the national metrology institute further reinforces its mandate to ensure accuracy in measurement across sectors.
In crafting the Liberia Standards Act, Mambu said national development priorities were considered, along with principles of transparency, openness, impartiality, and alignment with regional and international frameworks, including the ECOWAS Quality Policy and African Union Quality Infrastructure.
Hon. Mambu called on all Liberians and development partners to support the implementation of the Act, emphasizing that a robust quality infrastructure is not only vital for boosting trade and economic growth but also for protecting consumers and the environment.
“The implementation of this Act demonstrates Liberia’s commitment to tapping into regional and global trade opportunities while ensuring sustainable development,” he concluded.