Grand Bassa County, Liberia – September 16, 2025: Fishmongers in Little Bassa, Grand Bassa County, on Monday, rejoiced as a brand-new Japanese-funded fisheries processing facility was officially inaugurated and handed over. The project was implemented through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA).
The new FAO-Thiaroye Processing Technique (FTT) facility, accompanied by sea safety materials, was handed over during a colorful ceremony attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Government of Liberia, and fisherfolk. The facility is expected to transform fish processing practices, improve food safety, and create better livelihoods for fishmongers and fishing households in the community.
Speaking at the event, NaFAA’s Deputy Director General, J. Cyrus Saygbe Sr., described the facility as a symbol of international cooperation and progress.
“This milestone represents not just an investment in infrastructure, but also a demonstration of enduring friendship, international cooperation, and the shared goal of improving the livelihoods of our fisherfolk,” Mr. Saygbe said.
He praised FAO as a trusted partner to the Government of Liberia, noting that fishmongers—many of them women—remain the “unsung heroes” of Liberia’s fisheries sector, working daily to secure food and contribute to national stability. He added that the facility is not only about opening infrastructure, but also about “opening new opportunities for fishmongers, processors, and coastal communities to add value to their work, preserve their harvests, and secure better livelihoods.”
Japan’s Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, H.E. Hiroshi Yoshimoto, commended FAO and NaFAA for completing the facility, stressing that it aligned with Japan’s foreign policy principle of human security.
“Human security places people at the center of development, ensuring dignity, freedom from fear, and freedom from want. By strengthening small-scale fisheries and rice production, Japan is helping to provide practical solutions to complex challenges,” Ambassador Yoshimoto said.
FAO Representative to Liberia, Bancie Saeed, explained that the facility addresses two critical challenges facing Liberia’s coastal fishing communities. First, traditional fish smoking methods have posed severe health risks and food contamination, particularly for women processors. Second, a lack of safety equipment has exposed small-scale fishers to dangers at sea, sometimes with fatal consequences.
Mr. Saeed noted that the Little Bassa facility is one of 15 processing centers being established across nine coastal counties. As part of the project, 120 fishmongers have been trained as trainers of trainers, who will pass on improved fish processing knowledge to an estimated 1,800 beneficiaries nationwide.
Meanwhile, Mr. Navin Chander, Managing Director of CFAO Mobility, pledged his company’s continued support by providing after-sales services and spare parts for Yamaha outboard motors. He assured fisherfolk that his technical team will regularly visit fishing communities to address engine maintenance needs.
The turnover of the fisheries facility in Little Bassa reflects a strong partnership between Liberia, Japan, and FAO, demonstrating how international cooperation can drive sustainable development, enhance food security, and uplift coastal communities.