MONROVIA – The Liberia Standards Authority (LiSA) has intensified verification exercises at gasoline stations and commercial establishments across Liberia, warning consumers to look for official LiSA verification stickers before purchasing fuel or goods sold by measurement.
By: Gegee Brima
The disclosure was made Tuesday by Koakum Emmanuel Myers, Deputy Director General for Technical Services at the Liberia Standards Authority, during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing in Monrovia.
Myers said the exercise is part of LiSA’s mandate to promote standards, accurate measurements, quality assurance and consumer protection, particularly amid concerns about what President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has described as “hidden inflation.”
He said LiSA is working with the Ministry of Commerce to verify gasoline pumps and ensure that dispensers accurately measure the quantity of fuel sold to consumers. According to Myers, the Authority’s metrology team conducts verification every six months, using established measurement tolerances and adjusting dispensers where necessary.
Myers explained that gasoline dispensers can develop mechanical problems due to manufacturing, storage or other factors, while deliberate tampering can also result in consumers receiving less fuel than they purchase.
“If you are buying one gallon of gas, it means that you’re getting one gallon of gas,” Myers emphasized.
He urged motorists to check for the LiSA verification sticker on gasoline pumps before making purchases. He said a valid sticker indicates that the dispenser has been inspected, verified and sealed, while also providing information about the validity or expiration of the verification.
“If you don’t see the Liberia Standards Authority sticker there, it means you are buying gas at your own risk,” Myers warned.
He disclosed that LiSA has deployed compliance teams to conduct spot checks at gasoline stations previously subjected to verification. Myers said some businesses have resisted the exercise, including cases where verification seals were allegedly broken, adding that some disputes involving gasoline stations have reached the Supreme Court.
Beyond fuel stations, LiSA is also verifying commercial scales used in transactions involving commodities such as rice, meat, gold and other goods sold by weight.
Myers urged consumers to check for LiSA verification stickers on weighing scales before purchasing goods and said the exercise is intended to ensure that customers receive the quantity for which they have paid.
“We want to make sure that our people get what they pay for,” he said.
Meanwhile, LiSA is engaging government institutions and roadside fuel sellers, commonly known as “can boys,” over concerns surrounding the sale and handling of gasoline outside formal service stations.
Myers said the discussions involve relevant fuel-sector institutions, the Liberia National Police, the Liberia National Fire and Rescue Service and representatives of roadside fuel sellers. He said the engagement focuses not only on enforcement but also on fire prevention, safe handling, proper locations and consumer protection.
The Authority, he added, plans to work with unions representing roadside fuel sellers to develop measures to address safety concerns associated with the practice.
Surveillance of Building Materials
Myers also disclosed that LiSA has launched a surveillance program targeting the quality of building materials entering and being sold on the Liberian market.
He said building materials have become a major concern, prompting the establishment of an inter-institutional mechanism involving LiSA, the Ministry of Commerce, Liberia Revenue Authority, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Justice, Liberia Engineering Society and the Consumers Association.
The initiative is intended to identify building materials available on the Liberian market and establish their minimum applicable standards.
Myers identified five priority areas for the initial surveillance program: cement, steel rods, nails, roofing materials and tiles.
A technical working committee has been established and inaugurated, with manufacturers, distributors and importers participating in discussions. According to Myers, the process will help the government determine the standards currently applicable in the market and inform future policy and regulatory decisions.
Standard Measuring Cup
The Authority is also considering the introduction of a nationally recognized standard measuring cup for certain commercial transactions.
Myers said different types and sizes of cups are currently used in markets, particularly in the sale of commodities such as rice, creating inconsistencies in measurement.
He said discussions are underway to establish a standardized measuring cup to promote uniformity and fairness in commercial transactions.
Myers said LiSA’s broader objective is to help create a marketplace where quality, accurate measurement, safety and fairness become normal expectations.
He urged businesses to regularly verify their measuring instruments, avoid tampering with verification seals, use appropriate equipment and comply with applicable standards and technical regulations.
Consumers, meanwhile, were encouraged to pay attention to verification marks, ask questions and report suspected cases of non-compliance.
“If you pay for a liter or gallon, you should get a liter or gallon; if you pay for a kilogram, you must have a kilogram; and when you pay for quality, you should have it,” Myers said.
He stressed that standards extend beyond technical regulations, noting that they directly affect what Liberians buy, pay for, receive and trust in the marketplace.
The LiSA, he said, will continue working with government institutions, businesses and consumers to strengthen Liberia’s standards and consumer protection system.
