House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon has assured concerned marketers that the august body will amicably resolve the long-standing crisis among members of the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA). The marketers’ crisis owed it route to the ownership of market building in the township of West Point, outside Monrovia. At a brief petitioning ceremony, Speaker Koon said, the plights of the marketers are also of concern to the plenary, which he said, the House will address ‘very soon.’ Koon’s statement was re-echoed by the chair on Executive, Representative Sekou Konneh, who received the petition. Shortly after receiving the petition, Konneh appreciated the marketers. He assured them that the plenary will find a lasting peaceful solution to the situation. Rep. Konneh’s brief remark came after scores of concerned market women on Tuesday, June 3, stormed the courtyard of the Capitol Building demanding the keys to their West Point market facility. They alleged it was seized by Representative Emmanuel Dahn of District #7, Montserrado County.
With placards and chanting battle cry, the concerned women through their petition alleged that Rep. Dahn has refused to adhere to the court ruling, which among other things, gave the LMA the right to own and use the facility. Andina Sesay, who read the concerned marketers’ petition said, the prolong holding of the keys to the facility is affecting their livelihood, including the peace and stability of their community, which needs urgent intervention. She recalled that on August 21, 2024, the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Montserrado County ruled in the case; mandating the West Point Market facility be officially turned over to the LMA. The court’s ruling followed Liberia National Police (LNP) investigation and the sheriff’s collaboration. The Court’s decision also followed a long-standing dispute over the management and rightful custodian over the market structure. The LMA described the ruling as “acting well, doing justice to the matter in accordance with the law.” “As a lawmaker, we respected him and gave him the market keys following his request, but since that time, he is yet to return the key. This is so sad and unfortunate,” the marketers said of Rep. Dahn. In collaboration with West Point Township Commissioner, Dahn is said to have ‘unlawfully take possession of the keys to the market building despite the court’s ruling,’ an act the marketers described as a ‘complete disregard for the rule of law.’ While the lawmaker is yet to face his accusers, the marketers think his decision ‘is a direct threat to their welfare, including the peace and stability of their community.’ Meanwhile, the concerned marketers have called for government timely intervention into their plights or else, they would take an unspecified action demanding their rights and value.