Street traders in Monrovia and its surrounding communities, have mounted a strong argument against the government.
Some of them accused authorities of “marginalizing them through harsh and insensitive policies.”
The traders, many of whom depend entirely on daily street sales for survival, have called directly on Joseph Nyuma Boakai, to reconsider the recent crackdown on street marketing, which they say, has worsened the already difficult living conditions.
Under the directive issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, all forms of street selling have been banned, with businesses ordered to relocate into designated shop spaces.
Authorities have warned that any goods displayed on sidewalks or roadside areas risk immediate confiscation, the move traders say, amounts to “economic suppression rather than regulation.”
The enforcement of the ban has triggered widespread frustration among informal workers, many of whom argue that they were not consulted before the policy was introduced.
“We are not criminals. Stop treating us like outside children,” one trader remarked.”
We are Liberians trying to survive, under the banner of the Federation of Petite Traders and Informal Workers Union, has stepped in.
Its members have called for calm among while simultaneously demanding urgent dialogue with the government.
The Union’s President, Charles Konah, said, while government has the authority to regulate commerce, such decisions must be “inclusive.”
Konah said, excluding traders’ leadership from discussions on policies that directly affect their livelihoods reflects a troubling disconnect between policymakers and ordinary citizens.
He said, since the ban, many traders have reported significant financial losses and uncertainty about their future.
Konah said, street vending is not a matter of preference, but necessity, especially in a country where formal employment opportunities remain limited.
Meanwhile, the Union has called for constructive engagement. It warned that prolonged enforcement without dialogue could escalate tensions.