GANTA, Nimba County – Over the weekend, the Liberia Pharmacy Board (LPB) officially dedicated its newly constructed Regional Office in Ganta City, Nimba County, marking a significant milestone in the decentralization of pharmaceutical regulatory activities outside Monrovia.
By D. Franklin Doloquee
The project, costing over US$20,000, is hailed as a strategic move to strengthen pharmaceutical regulation and improve access to quality medicines in Liberia’s rural regions.
The dedication ceremony underscored the LPB’s commitment to creating an enabling and regulated environment that guarantees sustainable, high-quality pharmaceutical services essential for improved healthcare delivery.
At the event, Dr. Menmon P.Z. Dunah, Registrar General and Chief Executive Officer of the Liberia Pharmacy Board, expressed pride in achieving an eight-year dream of owning a dedicated office building rather than relying on rented spaces.He explained that the modern facility will serve multiple functions, including conducting training sessions for pharmacy workers and drugstore operators, and hosting conferences in the 50 seat conference hall.
This development will significantly reduce the need for local practitioners to travel to Monrovia to access regulatory services. The new building boasts four offices, a spacious conference and training hall and two bedrooms among other facilities, reflecting LPB’s vision of expanding its presence and services across the country.
Speaking on behalf of the Liberia Medical and Dental Association, Dr. Deddeh E.P. Supuwood, emphasized the critical role pharmacy workers play alongside doctors in delivering healthcare.
She applauded the LPB’s initiative to decentralize its operations, noting that access to regulated pharmaceutical services in rural areas is indispensable for effective medical treatment.
Liberia’s Chief Pharmacist, Dr. Joshua T. Peter, acknowledged the ongoing support from the government under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Vice President Jeremiah Koung and Health Minister Dr. Louise M. Kpoto.
He highlighted the government’s success in providing drugs to over 580 public health facilities nationwide and reducing preventable deaths caused by lack of proper treatment.
Dr. Peter called for stronger collaboration among security agencies—including the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency(LDEA) and the police to monitor and regulate the movement of pharmaceutical products and stop the circulation of counterfeit drugs.
The Ganta Business Community was represented by Prince P.S. Howard, who welcomed the new office as an essential step to reduce the challenges faced by drugstore operators in rural Liberia.
He pointed out that such regulatory offices are vital, especially in counties like Nimba where reliable access to quality medicines remains a pressing challenge.
Mr. Howard urged regulatory bodies to continue working diligently to ensure that citizens receive genuine treatments.
Madam Celica Flomo, representing the Midwifery Profession, pledged full cooperation with LPB in their activities, reinforcing the shared goal of saving lives through safe pharmaceuticals.
Nimba County Health Team, Dr. Ponnie Robertlee Dolo, affirmed the county health system’s support for the LPB’s initiatives and praised the consistent supply of medicines provided by the government, which has positively impacted healthcare service delivery in the region.
The keynote speech was delivered by Prince Yeah, Political Liaison Officer for Nimba County, who stood in for Superintendent Kou Meapeah Gono.
He stressed that for too long many Liberians outside the capital struggled to access safe, effective, and affordable medicines.
The lack of decentralization and weak local regulation had allowed counterfeit and expired drugs to flood markets, endangering public health.
Mr. Yeah emphasized that the opening of the Ganta regional office sends a powerful message: quality health services and strict pharmaceutical standards are rights for all Liberians, not privileges limited to urban centers.
He described the office as a vital step toward inclusive pharmaceutical governance that will improve licensing, inspection, monitoring, and enforcement of pharmaceutical laws throughout the region.
He added that the office will enable awareness programs on the safe use of medicines and facilitate closer cooperation with county health teams and local authorities, ensuring a coordinated approach to healthcare delivery.
Mr. Yeah concluded by highlighting that decentralization brings government services closer to the people, saving time and reducing costs for healthcare practitioners who previously had to travel long distances to Monrovia for regulatory matters.
This initiative promotes accountability, professionalism and improved healthcare outcomes across Liberia’s counties.
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