Africa-Press – Liberia. Senator Francis S. Dopoh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Posts and Telecommunications, has criticized the government for allowing Liberians to remain “spectators” in their own economy, citing the failure of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) to enforce a key provision of the Budget Law of 2024.
Representing River Gee County in the 55th National Legislature, Senator Dopoh highlighted that the law requires at least 25% of all goods and services, including capital projects, to be awarded to Liberian-owned businesses. The measure also mandates that all government ministries and agencies submit quarterly reports to the Legislature through the Legislative Budget Office (LBO) on compliance.
“Since the passage of this law, there is no record showing how Liberian-owned businesses have benefited,” Senator Dopoh said during Thursday’s Senate sitting, October 30. “Liberians must be partakers, not spectators, in their economy. To achieve this, Liberian-owned businesses must be supported and included in public procurement.”
The Senator called on the PPCC to provide a comprehensive report listing all Liberian companies that have benefited under the 25% provision. He also emphasized that members of the Legislature must actively follow up on laws to ensure their intended impact on the lives of Liberians.
In response, the Senate plenary has decided to formally request the PPCC to comply with Senator Dopoh’s call and explain why it did not respond to a similar request made in June 2025.
Senator Dopoh further lamented that many Liberian businesses are struggling to survive and stressed that strict implementation of the Budget Law is critical to improving their livelihoods.
“This advocacy is necessary because Liberians have always been spectators in their economy. They still are, and that must change,” he said.
His remarks come amid controversy involving a local company, ABK Incorporated, which alleges that the PPCC and a joint evaluation committee—including representatives from the Ministry of Public Works, the PPCC, and the Office of the Vice President—failed to fairly apply the law during a recent bid review.
ABK claims that its 0.5% discount and the legally mandated 15% margin of preference for Liberian-owned businesses were ignored, affecting the evaluation of bids for 285 machines. The competing bids included:
ABK Incorporated (Liberia): US$25,275,120.00
American Procurement Service: US$30,382,479.00
Evergreen Import & Export Federation (Foreign): US$21,646,035.00
With American Procurement Service disqualified for exceeding the US$30 million threshold, ABK contends that after applying the local preference and discount, its adjusted bid of US$21,376,432.42 should have been lower than Evergreen’s US$21,646,035.00. Despite this, ABK was reportedly deemed “unresponsive,” raising questions about the committee’s transparency.
Procurement analysts and civil society groups argue that failure to apply the local preference undermines Liberia’s Public Procurement and Concessions Act and contradicts President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s commitment to promoting local content in national development programs.
Stakeholders are now calling for an independent investigation into the committee’s handling of the procurement process and urging the Legislature to ensure Liberian businesses are empowered to actively participate in the economy rather than remain “spectators,” a longstanding issue that Dopoh says must end.
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