Liberian Farmer Demands Repeal of Executive Order 166 on Rubber Exports

Monrovia – Since informing the House Committee on Agriculture that he gave the advisement to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for the issuance of Executive Order 166 on the exportation of raw rubber, Agriculture Minister Dr. Alexander Nuetah has been a subject of heavy criticism from local rubber farmers. By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway The CEO of Meawon Liberia Incorporated, Mr. Charles Bamakpeh, is one of several rubber farmers to have taken the Minister to task for advising the President to issue what rubber farmers see as a death sentence for local farmers and businesses. Predicated upon this, Bamakpeh wants the Order, which was signed on June 26, 2026, repealed so as to boost the local rubber industry. Bamakpeh, who has been a leading voice against the operationalization of this Executive Order, points out that this Presidential directive is crippling the businesses of local rubber farmers. Bamakpeh, as usual, informed the media on the weekend that warehouses across the country are overflowing with unsold rubber, long-standing export contracts have been terminated, and thousands of smallholder farmers are now forced to sell at rock-bottom prices just to survive. Meawon Liberia Inc. and many other Liberian-owned companies have been completely cut off. We can no longer honor our international trade agreements. Our workers are now jobless, and farming families cannot sustain their homes or send their children to school, he stated. For him, Executive Order 151, which allowed the export of unprocessed rubber upon payment of US$150 per metric ton – a system he intoned, kept local businesses alive while generating revenue for government was the best option that supports the growth of local economy. According to the Meawon boss, the new Order does not serve ordinary Liberians, but rather protects foreign concession companies and paves the way for a foreign monopoly over Liberias rubber sector. During his appearance before the House Committee on Agriculture, when he was called to provide clarity on the controversies surrounding the Order, Minister Nuetah told lawmakers of the Lower Chamber of Liberia’s bicameral Legislature that the directive was the best way forward for the industry. But to the local farmers, this is a betrayal of trust by siding with foreign interests and, as such, the President should have him dismissed and appoint a new minister who prioritizes the business interests of local farmers. Most disappointingly, Bamakpeh noted that the ban was imposed without any grace period, despite the Ministry of Agriculture knowing that local exporters were holding huge stocks. The Minister has been confrontational with farmers in the field instead of addressing their welfare and this is really killing us. He is seeking foreign investors at the United Nations General Assembly while suppressing Liberian businesses at home, Bamakpeh asserted. It is my perspective that Minister Alexander Nuetah is operating with executive shielding to the detriment of Liberias rubber industry. We urgently request that the administration repeal Executive Order 166 and dismiss the Minister of Agriculture without delay, Bamakpeh added. Independent. Fearless. Liberian. Your support helps FrontPage Africa keep investigating, informing and holding power to account, and keeps quality journalism free for every reader.