PHOTO: Mohammed Barrie, Pres. Fulani Business Association
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Members of the Fulani Community in Liberia are calling for due recognition to be given them in the Liberian society and the immense contributions they are making to the development of this this country’s business sector.
Speaking at the just Business forum of the just ended 4th National Judicial Conference at the Ministerial Complex in Monrovia’s Congo Town suburb, the President of the Fulani Business Association in Liberia asserted that his kinsmen are not considered foreigners during political elections when all political parties are seeking votes.
But Mr. Mohammed Majah Barrie regretted that Fulanis are considered foreigners immediately after elections.
Fulanis, many of whom are naturalized Liberians, are fast establishing a foothold in the local business sector. Next to the Indians and Lebanese the volume of businesses they are involved in the Liberian economy, including investment in real estate.
Mr. Mohammed Majah Barrie Mr. Barrie making a presentation during the fourth National Judicial Conference at the Ministerial complex said Fulanis are not foreigners during times of donations, citing Ebola virus crisis in Liberia 2014.
The President of the Fulani business community added that when national government addresses issues that are of impediments to growth and development, then he has the conviction that there is trade in peace and he would be pleased to tell someone far away that there is access to justice for all traders.
Speaking on the topic, Trading in Peace and the Access to Justice, Mr. Barrie stressed that this subject should provoke national government to protect Liberian businesses through the means of economic freedom and security in post war Liberia.
He underscored the importance peace, security, respect for the rule of law and protection of local Liberia businesses through the legal system, things he said continue to be a major challenge.
According to him, private owned businesses are often faced with series of administrative bottlenecks, which obstructs normal trading of goods and services.
Sometimes, he said traders literally find no way to do their businesses amidst such condition.
Mr. Barrie said for business people to trade in peace, their should be a sober reflection on the need for access to justice and the existence of the rule of law.
He explained that post-war economic recovery requires the revival and improvement of the key productive sectors of the economy (mining, agriculture and forestry amongst others), adding that during the civil conflict, development in these sectors came to a halt as warring factions controlled them and looted their resources.
Explaining further, Mr. Barrie said over thousands of Fulani businesses owners are faced with humiliations in the name of being foreigners in pursuit of registering their businesses as Liberian businesses.
However, Mr. Barrie noted that since the conflict is over, the task of attracting appropriate investments to revitalize the productive structures and stimulate economic activities in these sectors becomes crucial to economic recovery and development.
The head of the Fulani business community spoke of the need for immediate revitalization strategies that should focus on strengthening productive capacity in the mining and agriculture export sectors and in food production.
Moreover, existing investments in Liberia’s traditional export items (iron ore, gold, rubber and timber among others agricultural products) should be revived and new investment be sought to expand exports production, Mr. Barrie said.
Meanwhile, the Fulani business community has called on the Liberian government to identify alternative energy sources and promote efficiency in the use of existing energy source, in order to boost the nation’s economy.