Othello Sarweh Nimely
Monrovia-The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has concluded a two-day technical training workshop aimed at strengthening quality control, inspection, grading, and standardization within Liberia’s cocoa and coffee sectors.
The training, held from September 16–17, 2026, brought together Regulatory inspectors and contractors as part of efforts to train them on how to improve the quality and standard of agricultural commodities leaving Liberia.
LACRA Director General Christopher Sankolo urged contractors to take their responsibilities seriously and enhance quality control, warehouse inspections, and grading practices within the cocoa and coffee sectors.
Sankolo stressed the importance of ensuring that cocoa exported from Liberia meets the required quality standards. He cautioned contractors that failure to perform their duties effectively could result in their replacement.
He encouraged the contractors to prioritize quality and ensure that only cocoa meeting established standards are cleared for export.
The Director General also underscored the importance of accurate data collection in informing government policy, particularly regarding the volume and quality of cocoa exported from Liberia.
Sankolo encouraged participants to carry out their responsibilities with integrity and avoid exploiting the regulatory system for personal gain.
«“Your role in this training is not just about learning; it is about serving your country and the agricultural sector with dignity,” Sankolo remarked.»
For his part, Director General for Operations and Technical Services, Alpha Gongolee, also emphasized the need for workers to effectively perform their duties along the cocoa quality chain.
The workshop training covered several key areas, including mandate and ethics, cocoa quality-chain causal diagnosis, representative sampling, physical laboratory analysis, cut testing, lot grading, facility inspection, and traceability reporting.
Ehile talking to journalists , Alpha Gongolee explained that the training forms part of LACRA’s mandate to ensure that contractors and taffs members are adequately prepared to enforce their regulations.
Gongolee said the training specifically focused on quality control measures, warehouse inspections, and grading standardization.
He noted that trained contractors would be deployed to various posts, including areas that have been vulnerable to weaknesses in the past, to help ensure that cocoa leaving Liberia complies with established quality standards.
He expressed appreciation to the participants for dedicating their time to acquiring the technical knowledge needed to contribute to the development of Liberia’s cocoa and coffee industries.
The training reflects LACRA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen agricultural standards and regulatory practices in Liberia, with a focus on improving the quality and reputation of the country’s cocoa and coffee exports in the international market.
As Liberia continues to develop its agricultural sector, LACRA says initiatives of this nature are important to promoting quality, sustainability, and growth in the country’s agricultural economy.
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