By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
Gbarnga, Liberia- Local officials of the Ministry of Commerce in Liberia’s central Bong County have spoken against the reported sale of expired food commodities, especially frozen chicken parts and fish, threatening drastic actions against those caught in such practice.
The Commerce Ministry’s Inspector in Bong County, Godin Manbia said it has come to the attention of the Ministry that cold-storage owners and petti traders are conspiring to sell expired commodities to citizens for consumption, which he said would cause serious health impediment.
Inspector Manbia said beginning Monday, July 15,2019, agents of the Commerce Ministry are expected to begin inspecting business centers and markets, where frozen fishe and chicken are sold.
He said that those who will be caught selling rotten chicken and fishe will be arrested and charged accordingly.
He told Journalist that it is demoralizing for people to be selling expired foods to citizens.
According to him, while the government of President George Manneh Weah is exerting efforts to stabilize the ailing economy, it is necessary for the general public including the business Community to jointly support the government, instead of undermining the progress of the President.
The Bong County Commerce Inspector said the selling of expired commodities to the local market is an act of causing sicknesses on grounds that rotten chicken and fish are unhealthy.
Recently, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry destroyed over one hundred cartoons of expired chickens from the National Frozen Food Center branch #6 on the Gbarnga broad street.
The Ministry described its recent action as a deterrence against violation of the Commerce guidelines, maintaining that such action will not stop until those involved in the sale of expired commodities stop.
At the same time, the Commerce Inspector of Bong County has pledged his full commitment in working with the People of this County to support President Weah’s “Pro-poor” agenda for prosperity and development.
In an interview with www.newspublictrust.com at the Gbarnga central market recently, Mr. Manbia said with the level of work President Weah is doing, he foresees that Liberia’s economy will improve as soon as possible.
He spoke during a one-day awareness held by the Commerce Ministry on the effects of expired commodities sold to consumers.