Liberia’s President George Manneh Weah? in consultation with local government authorities, has set up a Special Presidential Committee for the comprehensive cleanup exercise of all county capitals and the city of Paynesville.
According to the Executive Mansion, the cleanup exercise will kick off through the effective implementation of a 90-day Action Plan, beginning Friday, July 16, 2021, ahead of the July 26th Independence Day, which is celebrated by all Liberians.
The Executive Mansion statement also said that the 90-day Action Plan is part of the government’s reform measures on the efficient management of market grounds in the country, with an initial focus on the grounds of the newly constructed Omega Market in the City of Paynesville.
The President named the Ministry of Public Works as Chair of the committee while the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) will co chair the committee. The Ministry of State, Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, Liberia Land Authority, the Paynesville City Corporation and the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) are all members of the committee.
Meanwhile, the Liberian leader has mandated the committee to ensure that the sale of table tickets by any person or institution at Omega Market is suspended for 3 months with immediate effect.
They will make sure that there is no selling of space or any parcel(s) of land to any person or marketer and that no marketer shall pay any sum of money for any space or land at Omega Market.
The Executive Mansion also stated that the President mandated the committee to make sure that all marketers leave the Red Light grounds and relocate to the Omega Market in a peaceful and orderly manner.
They are also mandated to ensure full compliance with the Committee’s mandate at all times for the success of the 90-day Action Plan.
The Government of Liberia says it takes very seriously the health and livelihoods of every Liberian citizen, including marketers around the country, especially during these crucial times of our collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, being conscious that market grounds are at higher risk.
The government sees it as timely and prudent to intervene and maintain sanity at our market grounds, particularly for the safety of our mothers who spend a significant amount of their time in the markets.
The statement also noted that the Liberian leader has pledged the government’s commitment to collect and dispose of solid waste from the Omega Market grounds and maintain good sanitary conditions through an all-inclusive and participatory approach. The President assured all that the government will work with the relevant stakeholders to have amongst other things, the construction of a new warehouse for marketers , the rehabilitation of the road leading to the market, ensure the cooperation of the transport union, and the installation of solar lights to enhance the safety of marketers.
The government has also assured the citizens that the exercise will be extended to all other markets throughout the country with the help of local authorities.
