Executive Mansion, Monrovia - President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has commissioned the Liberia Standards Authority (LISA) Quality Laboratory, describing it as a decisive step in strengthening Liberia’s national quality infrastructure and advancing the country’s economic transformation agenda.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held at the Ministry of Public Works Compound in Monrovia, President Boakai emphasized that the LISA Lab will serve as a trusted national certification emblem, assuring that products circulating in Liberia meet approved standards for safety, performance, and quality.

The President highlighted the fundamental nature of standards to economic fairness, public health, and consumer confidence. He noted that substandard goods and hidden inflationary practices undermine trust in the marketplace and negatively affect ordinary citizens.

“The issue of standards is very practical. Even people in the market are being cheated every day due to hidden inflation and lack of attention to quality and quantity. Standards are very important to industries. They are very important to our economic life,” President Boakai stated.

He described the operationalization of the Liberia Standards Authority—established by the 2022 Act as a semi-autonomous statutory body responsible for standardization, conformity assessment, and metrology—as a major institutional reform aimed at ensuring fairness in trade and protecting consumers.

The President stressed that the consistent application of standards will enhance Liberia’s competitiveness in regional and international markets, reduce technical trade barriers, and position Liberian goods for broader market access. He called on the Authority to be vigilant, systematic, and transparent in executing its mandate, while urging collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, market operators, and development partners.

The President expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for its leadership in strengthening the national standards framework and acknowledged the invaluable support of development partners in modernizing laboratories, upgrading facilities, and enhancing technical capacity.
He pointed out that maintaining strong and credible standards ensures alignment with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, noting that economic growth must be built on systems that protect consumers, inspire investor confidence, and promote responsible enterprise.

The Liberian Leader further averred that strong standards are not obstacles to trade but instruments for economic opportunity, ensuring that Liberian businesses can compete effectively within the ECOWAS region and beyond.

The commissioning of the LISA Quality Mark marks a new chapter in Liberia’s journey toward institutional accountability, improved public health safeguards, and sustainable economic development.