Monrovia – The Executive Director of Champion Designs & Computer Accessories, Enoch Partee Toga, has raised concerns over a decision by the Mayor of the Paynesville City Corporation, Robert S. Bestman II, to outsource the regulation and control of advertising activities within the city to a private advertising company operating in the same market.
By Patience M. Jones
Toga made the remarks during a press conference held at his company’s office on Broad Street, Monrovia, where he addressed members of the media and the public on what he described as troubling developments in Paynesville’s advertising sector.
According to Toga, while outsourcing is not inherently problematic, delegating regulatory authority to a direct market competitor represents a clear conflict of interest. He said the arrangement places one entity in the position of both regulator and competitor, effectively acting as referee and player, and such a structure undermines transparency, accountability, and fair competition.
Toga emphasized that regulation is a core responsibility of government and must be exercised with neutrality and public accountability. He warned that combining regulatory authority with profit-driven commercial interests compromises the integrity of the system.
He cited instances in which Champion Designs reportedly experienced delays in permit approvals for billboard locations deemed unsuitable, only for similar advertising structures to later appear at the same sites under the control of the regulatory company. According to him, this pattern raises concerns about selective enforcement and potential market manipulation.
Referencing the ELWA Junction, Toga said that Champion Designs formally engaged the Mayor regarding a proposed digital billboard for the Ministry of Transport but was informed that plans already existed for the location.
He noted, however, that temporary advertising boards have since appeared at the same site, allegedly installed by the company acting as regulator. He also pointed to the Duport Road Junction, where temporary advertising installations reportedly evolved into large-scale entertainment structures contributing to persistent traffic congestion and prominently displaying the Mayor’s image, questioning the consistency of urban planning standards and the equal application of regulatory rules.
Toga further raised concerns over reports that branded vehicles operating within Paynesville are being subjected to double taxation. He explained that businesses headquartered in Paynesville should be permitted by the Public Procurement and Concession Commission, while those based in Monrovia fall under the jurisdiction of the Monrovia City Corporation. He warned that taxing branded vehicles merely for passing through municipal jurisdictions would impose an unsustainable burden on businesses and ultimately increase the cost of goods and services, adding that at a time when the national government is working to ease economic pressure, local enforcement should not introduce measures that further strain the private sector.
The Executive Director disclosed that Champion Designs and other advertising operators have formally objected to a reported fifty percent increase in exhibition fees compared to previous years, citing overcharging and inconsistent billing practices.
He said the matter is currently before the court, but despite ongoing litigation, advertising materials belonging to his company were allegedly removed and defaced, actions he described as procedurally and ethically questionable.
Toga also claimed the company possesses correspondence from clients indicating they were told Champion Designs was not tax-compliant and were advised to engage the regulatory company instead, which he said, if verified, would constitute reputational harm and commercial interference. He added that Champion Designs has operated for over fifteen years and remains fully tax-compliant.
Toga maintained that no comprehensive public disclosure has been made regarding the terms and duration of the outsourcing agreement, the procurement and selection process, revenue-sharing or financial arrangements, or the legal authority under which regulatory powers were transferred. He argued that residents and businesses of Paynesville deserve transparency whenever public authority and revenue streams are delegated to private entities.
According to Toga, Liberian-owned small and medium-sized advertising companies now face uncertain access to advertising space, risks of selective enforcement, potential favoritism, and the threat of monopolistic control. He stressed that regulation should promote fair competition, not eliminate it.
Champion Designs is calling for the immediate public release of the full outsourcing agreement, full disclosure of the procurement and selection process, legal clarification of the authority used to transfer regulatory powers, stakeholder engagement with all advertising operators, suspension or review of the arrangement pending legal and transparency review, and standardized and reasonable rates applied equally to all advertisers.
In response to the allegations, the Paynesville City Corporation on Wednesday issued a statement dismissing the claims as unfounded. According to PCC, all procurement procedures related to the outsourcing of advertising-related activities to the Magic Group of Companies were conducted transparently and in strict compliance with Liberia’s public procurement laws.
The City Corporation said the process included competitive bidding and thorough evaluation to ensure fairness, accountability, and value for money. PCC categorically denied any procedural irregularities, stating that the selection of Magic Group of Companies was based on merit and that all necessary documentation and approvals were obtained.
The City government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, integrity, and good governance. PCC further disclosed that Champion Designs and Computer Accessories is allegedly in arrears of US$20,344.30 to the Paynesville City Corporation for the period 2023 to 2025.
The Corporation admonished Champion Designs to settle its outstanding obligations with the outsourcing entity rather than, in its words, scapegoating the city administration led by Mayor Robert S. Bestman II.
