Africa-Press – Liberia. The widespread rejection of Liberian coins by traders and businesses across parts of the country is raising serious concerns about economic order and respect for legal tender, as citizens struggle to conduct basic daily transactions in an already difficult economic climate.
Marketers, shop owners, store operators, small business owners, community residents, and even water factory proprietors, particularly in Bong County, are increasingly refusing to accept the coins introduced by the Government of Liberia years ago, despite their lawful status. The trend is disrupting commerce and undermining public confidence in the national currency.
The situation has hit water vendors the hardest. Sachet and bottled water sellers report that nearly 90 percent of their daily sales are made in coins. However, when these vendors attempt to use the same coins to purchase supplies or make payments at water factories, they are rejected, leaving them financially stranded and unable to circulate their earnings.
Similar challenges are unfolding in local markets, where marketers who accept coins from customers are later turned away by store and shop owners when attempting to restock goods. This growing chain of rejections has created a cycle of refusal that forces traders to either reject customers or incur repeated losses.
Economic analysts warn that the refusal of legal tender poses a serious threat to the informal economy, where small denominations are critical for everyday trade. They caution that continued non-acceptance of coins could distort prices, slow commercial activity, and disproportionately affect low-income earners who depend on small cash transactions.
Community leaders have described the situation as embarrassing and unlawful, emphasizing that rejecting state-issued currency violates Liberia’s financial laws. “When legal tender is refused in open markets, it signals a breakdown in enforcement and public trust,” one market leader noted.
There are increasing calls for immediate action by the Central Bank of Liberia and other relevant government institutions to address the situation. Citizens are urging authorities to enforce compliance, educate the public, and ensure that all legal tender is accepted without discrimination.
As pressure mounts, many fear that failure to act decisively will further erode confidence in the Liberian dollar and deepen economic hardship. For thousands of small traders, the rejection of coins is more than an inconvenience it is a direct threat to their livelihoods and the stability of everyday commerce nationwide.
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