Honorable Magdalene Dagoseh, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Liberia, led a three-man delegation of the Council of the Liberia Standards Authority (LiSA), to the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), for a three-day acquaintance and bilateral engagement visit held from October 15 to 17, 2025.

Accompanying the Minister were Mr. Natty Davis, President of the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, and Hon. Stephen Y. Mambu, Director General of the Liberia Standards Authority. The visit aimed to foster collaboration between the two national standards institutions and strengthen Liberia’s participation in the ECOWAS regional quality infrastructure framework, which plays a pivotal role in enhancing trade competitiveness and industrial growth across member states.

During the visit, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and the Liberia Standards Authority (LiSA) was ratified, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to deepening technical cooperation. The parties also agreed to develop a comprehensive operational workplan to expand exchanges and enhance technical capacity in key areas of standardization, certification, and metrology.

In a significant development, the delegation witnessed the signing of a technical capacity development contract between GSA and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The contract paves the way for study tours and technical training of LiSA staff at the GSA facilities, a step expected to strengthen Liberia’s institutional capacity in standards management and conformity assessment.

As part of the visit, the delegations toured a certified water and juice production facility and inspected several testing and calibration laboratories operated by the Ghana Standards Authority.

The acquaintance visit was supported by the Liberia Food Safety Initiative (LiFSI), which is implemented by UNIDO and funded by the European Union (EU). The initiative aligns with Liberia’s ongoing efforts to promote food safety, enhance product quality, and improve trade facilitation.

Speaking at the close of the visit, Minister Dagoseh emphasized the importance of regional partnerships in achieving Liberia’s industrial development goals. She noted that collaboration with institutions like the GSA is essential for building a credible standards system that can drive trade, protect consumers, and strengthen Liberia’s competitiveness in both regional and global markets.