Published: October 23, 2026
MONROVIA — The Liberia Standards Authority (LiSA) has announced plans to strengthen its testing, inspection and certification systems to help Liberian businesses access wider African markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The commitment followed a three-day high-level capacity-building dialogue with the African Organization for Standardization (ARSO) to improve Liberia’s national quality infrastructure and align its standards with continental requirements.
Speaking at the close of the dialogue, LiSA Director General and CEO Stephen Youngar Mambu said the authority would prioritize staff development, accreditation, and adopting harmonized African standards.
Mambu said Liberian experts would join selected ARSO technical committees to strengthen national standardization and improve recognition of Liberian testing and certification results across Africa.
He said the initiative would particularly benefit small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to expand their operations and access opportunities under the AfCFTA.
“We can assure Liberians of improved activities and programs to realign and ensure that LiSA is positioned to contribute to standardization, as well as making sure that, in terms of testing and certification, the institution has the required staff,” Mambu said.
For his part, ARSO Secretary-General Dr. Hermogene Nsengimana commended LiSA’s efforts to strengthen Liberia’s standardization system and improve the credibility of testing and certification services.
“LiSA has a priority and vision in making sure it achieves its mandate,” Nsengimana said.
He encouraged Liberians and business owners to support LiSA’s programs, describing the authority’s efforts to improve testing, certification and continental standardization as an important step toward strengthening Liberia’s participation in African trade.
Nsengimana also pledged continued support for LiSA as it implements its institutional priorities and expands cooperation with ARSO.
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