The National Customs brokers Association of Liberia assembled peacefully in Monrovia on Friday to protest against MedTech Scientific’s handling of port documentation, citing delays that have caused significant trade disruptions.
The protesters called for immediate reforms, including the option to bypass MedTech’s system in favor of an alternative process known as IAM4, which they argue would speed up trade operations.
“We’re here today because MedTech’s inefficiencies are causing serious embarrassment and hindrances to Liberia’s trade sector. MedTech is holding on to documentation for weeks, sometimes months, which stalls the movement of goods from the port and causes financial losses for businesses”
Clifford Johnson, a representative of the customs broker community, said in an interview during the protest.
According to Mr. Johnson, one of the leading prosters, the delays are costing the shipping industry and importers due to added storage fees and penalties at the APM terminal, further exacerbating the financial burden on businesses.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just the businesses that suffer—it’s the entire Liberian market,” he added.
The Protesters are particularly frustrated with MedTech’s inability to promptly issue certificates, a key part of the customs clearance process. Chamor A.M. Conning, CEO of Chamor A.M. Conning Broker Firm, described how the backlog of unprocessed documents had worsened after MedTech temporarily halted operations due to legal issues.
“MedTech closed for almost a month due to a court case, and now they’re backlogged with hundreds of documents. Containers are sitting in storage, and brokers are bearing the brunt of the costs,” Conning explained.
The brokers’ solution is to make the IAM4 declaration process an alternative to MedTech’s system.
“IAM4 allows us to bypass MedTech’s certification delays. We pay their fee, attach the receipt, and send it to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) for faster processing,” said Conning. “It’s faster, and it could get goods out of the port as early as tomorrow if implemented.”
The protesters also emphasized that they are not seeking to disband MedTech but are demanding temporary alternatives until the company can efficiently handle the volume of documents.
“MedTech is incapacitated right now, and the government needs to step in. We’re asking the LRA and the Government of Liberia to allow us to use IAM4 until MedTech can get back on its feet,” Conning urged.
As tensions rise, the protestors warn that if no action is taken, their next course of action could involve more drastic measures. The protesters hinted, though they did not elaborate on specific plans.
For now, the customs brokers remain hopeful that the government will intervene, allowing them to continue their work while reducing the financial strain on Liberia’s businesses.
