Ganta, Nimba County– The Growth Accelerator Liberia Programme, an initiative aimed at supporting impactful Liberia Micro Small and Medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and Agricultural cooperatives with technical assistance, coaching and mentorship and co-financing grant, concluded its latest workshop series in Ganta, Nimba County, with a focus on enhancing customer relations as a cornerstone of sustainable business growth.

Accountability Lab Liberia Country Director, Lawrence Yealue, speaking at the start of the workshop highlighted the importance of building robust customer relationships, pointing out that businesses in Liberia often struggle to compete due to insufficient focus on customer service.

“You will do your businesses, and you don’t focus on customer relationships, which is the worst part of our business environment”.

Mr.  Yealue emphasized that many Liberian businesses are losing competitive grounds to international service providers, particularly in industries such as catering, where foreign companies frequently dominate due to superior customer service standards.

His encouraged participants to prioritize meaningful customer engagement as an essential strategy for growth.

Lawrence Yealue’s address was a call to Liberian entrepreneurs to prioritize customer service, emphasizing it as a key factor for staying competitive. “Every time we somehow raise the argument nationally, the biggest argument that comes back is that we don’t have the people dialogue. The question now is, what customer services do you have?”

He noted that Liberian businesses can only compete with international companies if they focus on delivering high-quality, customer-centered services. He urged business owners to reconsider their approach to customer relations, viewing it not as an add-on but as an integral part of their business strategy.

iCampus CEO, Luther D. Jeke, also outlined the importance of the Growth Accelerator Liberia Programme to Liberia MSMEs and it’s impactful across the country in the last four years. He encouraged the cohort IV finalists to keep the passion, dedication and zeal to scale and growth their businesses that will trigger the employment of other youths, women and persons with disabilities within their ventures which will contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable livelihood.

The two-day workshop represented the cohort four of the Growth Accelerator Liberia Programme, a flagship initiative of UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Forestry Development Authority, the European Union Delegation to Liberia, the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia, Accountability Lab Liberia and iCampus Liberia.

The programme is part of an ongoing effort to bolster Liberian businesses by equipping them with critical skills in customer service, supply chain optimization, marketing, and brand-building.

Through technical assistance, mentorship, training, and co-financing, the program seeks to foster a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem within Liberia.

The event unfolded over two days, packed with energetic sessions and dynamic exchanges. Participants included a diverse group of MSMEs and Agricultural cooperatives, each aiming to overcome unique business challenges. The workshops were specifically tailored to address the differing needs of the businesses.

The first day of the workshops introduced participants to the fundamental aspects of business growth, such as supply chain management, customer service excellence, and market linkages. Each session provided entrepreneurs with hands-on learning experiences, encouraging them to actively explore strategies for improving their operations.

For MSMEs, topics ranged from production and distribution to creating value in customer interactions. Meanwhile, agricultural cooperatives focused on marketing and branding, as well as exploring new fundraising and investment opportunities. The topics aimed to support each group in building practical skills that directly impact their day-to-day business activities.

Day two of the training emphasized teamwork and collaboration, which  encouraged entrepreneurs to work together to tackle shared challenges. The two day workshop however left lasting impact on all of the participants.

Reflecting on the knowledge acquired from the workshops, Sandra Perkins Lighe CEO of Zagg Natural, shared the value of the “Product Journey” exercise, describing how it has reshaped her approach to business. “We were able to understand fully what product journey is and how we can improve on our different products and services,” she stated, highlighting the importance of aligning customer needs with the product life cycle.

Lighe expressed pride in Liberia’s potential in the agricultural sector, encouraging female entrepreneurs to bring Liberian products to the world stage.

The Growth Accelerator Liberia Programme’s workshops are only one part of its mission to empower entrepreneurs across the country. The programme also provides co-financing opportunities, technical assistance, and training to select businesses. This year, from a pool of semi-finalists who pitched their business proposals before a panel of seasoned experts, 20 businesses emerged as winners.

Participants competed in categories offering grants of $10,000, $20,000, and $40,000 USD, based on business viability, profitability, and socio-economic impact. For example, eight businesses, including Ma. Lude Business Incorporated and West Africa Ranch Company, secured $20,000 grants. Each winning business receives ongoing support in the form of mentorship and business development training, helping them navigate the challenges of scaling in Liberia’s competitive market environment.

The winners represent a diverse range of industries, from agro-ventures like Tusa Farm and Mammie Sondah Agroventures to medical and service-based enterprises such as Den-Vera Medical Laboratory and Clinics and JoJo’s Glam House of Fashion. Each business has demonstrated a commitment to innovation and growth, with plans to create jobs and drive economic development within Liberia.

Ganta, Nimba County – A three-day Multi-Stakeholder Policy Dialogue Workshop on Women’s Economic Empowerment opened in Ganta, Nimba County, under the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerating Progress for Liberia’s Future.” The workshop brings together women’s groups, organizations, and government ministries and agencies to promote awareness and drive initiatives for women’s empowerment.

By Franklin Doloquee

At the opening ceremony, Dr. Muriel Ametoglo, UN Women’s Regional Feminist Economist Specialist, emphasized the workshop’s goal of enhancing participants’ capacity to advocate for policies that support women’s economic empowerment. She highlighted the importance of advancing areas such as the care economy, green economy, trade and entrepreneurship, and financing for gender equality.

Dr. Yemi Falayajo, Deputy Country Representative for UN Women in Liberia, delivered the keynote address, urging participants to promote women’s empowerment as a means to contribute to Liberia’s socioeconomic progress. She noted that global and regional challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related crises, are pushing millions of women into poverty. She stressed that empowering women in Liberia would increase productivity and support sustainable development.

The workshop features sessions on building women’s capacity in economic participation, enhancing access to financial services, and improving opportunities in green jobs, entrepreneurship, and trade. Participants are expected to develop a roadmap to advance women’s economic empowerment in Liberia by 2030.

Charlyn Davis Worzie, representing the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), highlighted the need for gender equity to ensure sustainable development. Assistant Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Ophelia J.S. Kennedy, encouraged participants to engage collaboratively, stating that collective effort is essential to overcome the challenges women face in economic spheres.

Korvah Avery Tarue, Financial Sector Economist at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, concluded by stressing that women’s economic empowerment is critical to Liberia’s prosperity. He called for actionable strategies to break down barriers and create an environment where women can thrive economically.

Ganta, Nimba County (LINA) – Liberian Police in Ganta, Nimba County have arrested a Pastor for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in the Royal Community.

Pastor Prince Nuah, Senior Pastor of the Redeemed Church in Royal Community in Ganta, was arrested over the weekend following a complaint filed by the child’s parents that their daughter was raped by the Pastor.

No evidence has so far been provided to prove that the 13-year-old girl was raped, but Pastor Nuah, 29, is currently detained at the Ganta Police station awaiting court trial.

When contacted by journalists, Pastor Nuah denied having an affair with the little girl and described what he is going through as a temptation meant to test his faith as a true Christian.

According to him, during the evening hours on Sunday, the girl (name withheld) entered his room and asked him to do an assignment for her.

He said he agreed to do the assignment but asked her to go and wait for him outside.

Pastor Nuah said after asking the girl to leave his room, she took his camera phone and began watching movies and after a few minutes, the girl jumped on him and began playing with him, a situation that prompted him to jump out of his own room to avoid a problem.

He said to his surprise, Police officers later came to his house to arrest him on grounds that a complaint had been filed against him at the Police station that he had raped a young girl.

He said upon arriving at the station he was asked few questions by the Police and detained in a cell, even though he did not admit commuting the act.

This is the second time in less than a year that a clergyman has been arrested in Ganta on allegation of rape.

It can be recalled that in mid last year, another pastor was arrested, tried and sent to prison on allegation of raping a minor.

Report by S. Kannay Ziamo, LINA Nimba County Correspondent

Ganta, Nimba County – Ganta hardly sleeps. And many believe that the city has genuine reasons to be awake all the time.

Report by Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com

Their reason is that many in the city make their money late at night; defying the daunting challenges those hours often pose.

All over Ganta, men, women and even teenagers are part of the burgeoning group whose members make the night their day. Call them kings and queens of the night; that indeed is what they are – people who rule the nights the way the gods do.

What that means is that at a time many in the city are descending into deep slumber, some are left behind to carry out one form of business or another.

There are some of them who begin their businesses as early as 6pm and never close until midnight and beyond.

After a paltry four hours of sleep, they return next morning to continue from where they left off.

For some too, at a time other residents are enjoying their sleep, they are venturing out, storming sometimes into the embrace of the biting cold, determined to ride its crest, no matter how rough that might be.

They tear through the still nights inadvertently disturbing its tranquility, driven by endless search for money and, sometimes, raw fun.

This segment of Ganta population in season and out of season runs a potpourri of businesses that keeps the city bubbling with night life, thereby keeping the city awake.

Among those businesses are foods and drinks, sales of various items, transport services, night clubbing and casino undertaking, leisure, entertainment management, commercial sex activities and many more.

And many believe that a lot of those night-hour businesses contribute largely to the country’s economy.

Interestingly, some areas of Ganta are closely associated with some of those activities that keep Ganta’s nights buzzing, FrontPageAfrica has found out.

It was the discovery made after nights of observation and investigation that saw our reporter crisscrossing the city, checking out how things swing about the time most mortals have long retired to the comfort of their homes.

Transport services at night in Ganta

Transport services at night sustain some people in Ganta. Here, people just must be on the road all the time.

That is why there are commercial motorcycle operators, aka Pehn-pehn, licensed taxis and unregistered ones.

Many who patronize them at those hours are largely party freaks, commercial sex workers and other persons, who have cause to be out late at night.

Expectedly, they pay through the nose, sometimes to get to their destinations. A pehn-pehn rider, Jerry, who, until recently, was a night-time operator in Ganta, told our reporter that the best time to make cool money was at night.

“I used to sleep for long hours in the day ahead of the night outing. I would take my bike for repairs to ensure seamless operation. Then by 10pm, I was out. There were other operators like me, but we used to increase our fares, as the daytime operators retired.

When this correspondent arrived Ganta recently at 1am from a journey, he observed some of the pehn-pehn riders lying atop of their bikes, awaiting passengers coming late into city. The fare for a 15-minute ride to Millennium quarter community was LD$100.

Despite the risks perceived to be associated with night travels, a staggering number of people still travel at night. And one needs to go to various entertainment centers in the city to find out.

Ganta is home to several hundreds of night markets where buyers make their late-night purchases, mainly foodstuff and meat. Some streets are designated for such markets.

Every area has its own market. Traders in some of those markets stay until late, illuminating their wares with China-made rechargeable lamps or local lamps whose flames flicker in the night air.

The traders stay as long as there are people coming forward to patronize them.

But there is another form of night markets trading mostly in wears and accessories, various imported items among other things. They spring up at popular entertainment centers to provide the needs of an army of late-night returnees.

Their operators wait until the Lagos State law prohibiting street trading has gone to sleep. They spread their wares on the walkways to make sales.

Nightclubs and leisure spots at night in Ganta

Even amid the economic downturn, Ganta residents still find time to unwind at various leisure spots, ranging from the low to the upscale.

Big-time hotels and clubs are front-liners.

Every part of the city hosts a number of entertainment and relaxation spots where people go to feel real good, with some of them playing good music and showing live football matches.

One of them is Vicky’s Entertainment Center, situated on the main street in Ganta. Some spots show live matches, as incentives while some charge per view, with costs ranging between LD 40 to 50. Food, drinks, cigarettes and other consumables sold at such spots are usually double their market value.

At the big time hotels, business goes on all-day. There is always a stream of guests and partakers in one form of activity or another.

At all times, money is changing hands. The visitors are always in their restaurants and bars, eating, drinking and ruling the nights with some playing assorted games for money in casino.

However, the real action is at the various nightclubs where hundreds of women flock to those arenas in the same way butterflies besiege nectar.

One of those spots is Planet 44, an area that houses a variety of clubs. There, only a thin line separates the day from the night.

As late as 2:am every weekend, the area is in full flight, with heavy human and vehicular traffic.

Every inch of space is taken up, such that the visitors hardly have space to park their vehicles.

A first timer would think a carnival is on but that is wrong. The ladies, who throng the area, are commercial sex hawkers who come to hustle.

For a fee of LD$500 and above for “short time”, they are available to any interested man. Taking them home for the night, FrontPage Africa gathered, could cost as high as LD 1500, depending on the size of the man’s pocket.

“Some of these ladies are undergraduates from various tertiary institutions,” a man, Ben, told the reporter.

“Every weekend, this place is as busy as a market place. Usually, it begins to get park from 11pm till dawn. The ladies come here to take advantage of the nightclubs that are crowded; they make a lot of money every night.”

“For some, that is all they do to get by.”

In Ganta and its extension, several night clubs abound, noticeably Jackie’s. Visitors pay admission fees, beginning from LD$500. And while inside the arena, they buy the least bottle of beer for LD 225.

There are also other side attractions, which visitors pay money to be part of.

Foods and drinks

In Ganta, many are involved in selling food and drinks, a business that keeps them till late. Every thickly populated community has such joints.

There are the well patronized dumboy spots being managed by many Nimbians (people from Nimba) themselves.

At some popular spots, operators stay up to midnight as long as people are ready to take a bite at their tasty, spiced meat.

Then there are the tea sellers, some of whom continue to attend to their teeming customers, trooping out to have something hot to warm their bodies even as late as midnight.

Anywhere there is a concentration of people from the Guinean part of the city, one is sure to see them in their numbers.

They are seen standing behind their tables with their utensils and foods spread on it.

Some of them now add a variety of easy-to-prepare foods, such as noodles and eggs for people on the go.

Also in this number are women, who prepare food for night travelers.

On the Ganta broad street on this particular night, it was approaching 11pm.

A certain woman sat beside a big, locally fabricated pot, sitting atop a locally made wood stove. It was full of steaming rice that presumably would be consumed shortly before midnight.

Ganta, Nimba County – Ganta is fast becoming Liberia’s busiest city. With over 50 stores, the  city now appears to be offering more shops than any other capital cities in the country.

Even though there is a lot of development planned, multiple high streets in the commercial city are developing to cater to the desire that many Liberians have to spend, easily demonstrating that the retail sector in the city waits for no man.

Establishing itself as a key prime residential city around 10 years ago, Ganta was and still is a node that is home to often young and affluent middle and upper middle class Liberians. Ganta’s centrally-located position with a stone throw to Guinea means that it can pull from a wide city area to thrive.

Starting from a single pharmacy or pharmacies on the main road around 8 years ago, developers, landlords, investors and homeowners woke up to the opportunity that the high traffic road had within this large gated affluent community.

By 2014, the main streets in Ganta had over 30 stores, 3 banks, 4 filling stations with many more developments in the pipeline. Among these stores the most dominant category are ‘Food and Drinks’ and ‘Fashion and Accessories’, together they account for 55% of all retail on the streets in the city.

Seeing as Ganta is not a shopping mall, there is little regulation on tenant mix and type of shops that can open on the road, so there are large amounts of duplication. This however, means more options for consumers who often come from communities in the city for food, grocery shopping as well as entertainment and leisure.  

The real question here however is why and how has it grown so rapidly? To begin with, the stock of retail available in the city is insufficient to cater to the huge population. While the Guinea border is just a stone’s throw away, even visible from the entrance of Gbarnga, inconvenient access and parking means that it isn’t always the first choice for most consumers, leaving them with limited options.

The amount of foot and car traffic that passes through the city is also too large to ignore. Many commuters use Ganta on a daily basis to commute either to Guinea or Grand Gedeh County with the pavement of the Ganta-Guinea border road, a larger amount of people are now using the route than ever. The volumes of people seen allow retailers tap into a large pool of impulsive buyers that can drive foot traffic and revenue.

Limited options for entertainment and leisure also means that ‘spots’ like Planet 44 and Jackies can cater to the residents and non-residents desire to take a break and relax after hours.

Ganta as a transit city has grown in status and is increasingly attractive to individuals who are either commuting or are seeking larger and more affordable homes. The supply of houses and apartments is increasing within the city as demand for property steadily rises.

Unfortunately, there are still looming vacancies in the region and landlords have seen the lucrative opportunity in breaking up the space and putting it into commercial use. A FrontPageAfrica recent visit to the county established that the asking price for land in Ganta has grown 500 United States dollars to 700 United States dollars.

Competition among business elites

The new status can be seen from new and renovated buildings that spring up by the day. These buildings house expansive hotel premises, banks, eateries, and other businesses. As if a subtle completion runs among property owners, construction or reconstruction work has become a regular feature in Ganta.

This has resulted on both sides of the busy Ganta broad street road and Monrovia parking, which are linked to two major round-about areas in the vicinity, being busy on a daily basis.

Two popular communities, People street and Gbatu quarter, which are in close proximity to Ganta, have regained their lost glory and are beginning to bubble again, despite the dilapidated outlook of most of their out-fashioned buildings.

With two petrol stations in strategic locations, reputable hotels, prominent church buildings, hospitals, schools, club houses, DSTV and GSM network provider offices among other places of prominent commercial activities, Ganta is changing rapidly.

It is also undergoing rapid transformation the league of high-brow locations that would in the near future sift the ‘chaff’ residents from the ‘substance’, as the former Assistant Superintendent for Nimba, Teeko Yorlay said to FrontPageAfrica recently.

Rental fees on the rise

Investigation by this reporter shows that rent is rising “outrageously” in Ganta which, as Yorlay noted, may signal a shift from the city “in the scheme of things” as developers take advantage of the rapid urbanization and population pressure to hike rent in the area.

For instance, a landlord whose property lies on the busy Ganta broad street has increased his property rent three times in four years. A three bed-room flat which attracted a rent of 1000 per annum in 2010 now costs between USD 2,500 and USD 3,000. Yorlay explained that the bust of the 2008/2009 property boom is largely responsible for the development explosion in Ganta.

He told FrontPageAfrica that Ganta and its environs have become too expensive for a moderate income earner to live in. “Developers and property owners who borrowed from the banks during the boom period are finding it difficult to meet up with their commitment with the banks”, he said.

The result is that they keep increasing the rents to meet up with their debt obligations, while the poor economic outlook makes it increasingly difficult for tenants to remain their too,” Yorlay said.