Boakai’s Executive Order Gets Thump Up -Lawmaker Taa Wongbe Underlines Benefits

MONROVIA – Barely an hour before inks got dry on the proclamation of Executive Order No. 151 by President Joseph Boakai – an order expressly aimed at revitalizing Liberia’s rubber sector and fostering inclusive economic growth, instituting sweeping measures to restrict the export of unprocessed rubber and promote domestic value addition, a member of the opposition community to the media express his approval and adoration. As The Analyst reports, Nimba County District #9 Representative Taa Wongbe says the presidential order is “a game changer” as it promises untold benefits not only for farmers of the sector but also the country’s economic stability.  

Almost immediately after the Executive Mansion announced that President Joseph Boakai’s had issuance of the Executive Order No. 151 seeking to transition Liberia’s rubber industry from an extractive, raw-material export economy into a value-added, job-creating sector that supports GDP growth, employment, and export earnings, a Liberian legislator, Taa Wongbe took the media to declared his affection and support for the order. 

Amongst other thing, the Executive Order restricts the export of unprocessed rubber—including natural latex, cup lump, bark scrap, ground scrap, and other forms listed under Schedule A., indicating that only processed rubber such as Technically Specified Rubber (TSR) is exempted.

Executive Order 151 also calls for compliance with new fiscal obligations, including a 4% presumptive tax, Rubber Development Fund Incorporated (RDFI) fees, and a surcharge of USD $150 per metric ton, and that exporters must present official tax and fee receipts, a valid tax clearance, and secure approval from the Ministry of Agriculture, followed by an Export Permit Declaration (EPD) issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Rep. Wongba’s Adoration

Following the publication of the order, Nimba Representative Taa Wongbe, a ranging member of the opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC) issued a statement of support he titled, “Let’s Breakdown President Boakai’s Executive Order #151 & What It Means for Liberia,” positing that he does not subscribe to the idea that opposition members should hope for failure just to gain political advantage.

“When the President succeeds, Liberia succeeds. And when Liberia succeeds, we all win,” the ANC official said. “I do not subscribe to the idea that opposition members should hope for failure just to gain political advantage. That mindset is not only unpatriotic, it is deeply harmful to our national interest.”

He contended that just as many prayed for President Sirleaf and President Weah during their tenures, “we should all pray for the success of President Boakai”, and that while he remains “a proud member of the opposition, but first and foremost, I am a Liberian, and my duty as an elected Representative is to work toward the good of our people, regardless of political affiliation”.

“My gratitude to the President yesterday invoked some questions of the benefits of the Order and reminders of past Executive Orders from President Sirleaf and President Weah, so I have been analyzing President Boakai’s Executive Order #151, its potential impact, and how it differs from past Orders and wanted to share.”

According to him, President Boakai’s Executive Order is a game changer and a positive step for Liberia’s economic future.

Benefits Spotted by Wongbe

Wongbe said while President Sirleaf’s EO #16 (2008) and EO #60 (2014) were targeted moratoriums aimed at stabilizing the rubber sector, curbing theft, and stopping illegal exports, and President Weah’s EO #124 (2023) also sought to stop unregulated exports and addressed abuse, misuse, and abandonment of rubber plantations—all excellent and needed at the time and the context for which they were issued, President Boakai’s EO #151 takes a different approach.

Rather than simply halting exports, it lays out a regulatory framework to promote local processing, domestic industry, and value addition, he argued, adding. “It introduces taxes, permits, and compliance requirements that, if managed well, could usher in a new chapter for Liberia’s economy”.

According to him, for over a century, Liberia has exported raw rubber, sending away jobs, profits, and industrial potential, and that the new Executive Order “is an attempt to change that story,”
 as it would lead to  local processing means more employment locally, from factories, drivers, day workers, to inspectors, etc, higher national revenue, boost for local entrepreneurs, and that farmers and cooperatives may have new incentives to invest in small processing units.

He also thinks it would improve infrastructure; with time and investment, roads and rural supply chains could improve.

Risks and Realities

The Nimba County legislator also pointed to potential risks including what he called, “Processing Gaps”.

He asked: “Do we currently have enough local factories to absorb and process rubber immediately?”

If not, admits, farmers will face serious delays, recounting how many smallholders depend on selling raw rubber for daily survival, warning that transitioning must not disrupt livelihoods.

He also spoke of export burden – new taxes and fees (4% presumptive tax, $150/MT surcharge, RDFI fees, and 2–4% post-export tax) may strain small exporters and cooperatives—and risk of exploitation so that if implementation is poor or prices drop, farmers may turn to smuggling or illegal channels.

Wongbe wondered about enforcement challenges, and asked, “Will government agencies have the resources and discipline to implement this fairly and efficiently?”

To make Executive Order No. 151 to work, the Nimba County lawmaker proffered some recommendations, calling on government to protect smallholder farmers with fair pricing, quick payments, and access to small-scale processing tech; ensure strong monitoring to prevent big players from taking advantage of the new system, invest in rural processing hubs across the rubber belt, and support farmer education and cooperative training to help people adapt and benefit from the new rules.

“Before the Executive Order,” he said, “we were already engaging companies to invest in rural processing in District 9, especially areas like Gbi-Doru, Yarwin Mehnsonnoh, and Doe Districts.”

According to him, the Executive Order #151 is bold and necessary, indicating that the vision to move Liberia from an exporter of raw materials to a producer of finished goods and processed forms like TSR (Technically Specified Rubber) and RSS (Ribbed Smoked Sheets) is the right path toward long-term prosperity and wealth creation. But as always, the success will lie in the implementation.

“Now, I will return to my quiet corner, where I have been fully focused, working with philanthropists and investors to help make District 9 a thriving agricultural hub and a model of rural transformation,” he concluded his statement. “The time for politics will come, but for now, it is time to govern. Stay blessed and have a great weekend.”