IPNEWS: Vice President Hon. Jeremiah Kpan Koung has once again reaffirmed the Government of Liberia’s unwavering commitment to confronting the challenges faced by Liberian entrepreneurs and creating a more supportive environment for local businesses to thrive.
Speaking passionately, the Vice President disclosed that the Price Stabilization Committee established by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is expected to submit its report to the President within the week. He noted that the findings will guide meaningful engagements with retailers and other critical stakeholders aimed at easing economic pressures and strengthening the business climate.
VP Koung emphasized the urgent need for policy reforms that prioritize and protect Liberian-owned enterprises, reiterating his long-held belief that Liberians must take the lead in the nation’s retail sector. He called for deliberate actions to ensure local entrepreneurs are not crowded out but instead positioned to grow and compete.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice President also appealed to foreign investors to channel their investments into production and wholesale ventures that add value to the economy, expand supply chains, and generate sustainable employment for Liberians.
The remarks were made on Sunday, December 28, 2025, during an appreciation dinner hosted by Vice President Koung and his wife, Second Lady Stephanie Dahn-Koung, at their farm on the outskirts of Ganta City, Nimba County.
The event was organized to honor members of Ganta’s vibrant and diverse business community, whom the Vice President praised for their unwavering support throughout his political and public service journey.
In an emotional highlight of the evening, VP Koung shared a powerful personal testimony from Liberia’s civil crisis in the 1990s
. He recounted how a childhood friend, Elijah Elliot—popularly known as “Papa” risked his life to save him by assuring armed soldiers that he was a trader, not a combatant.
Moved by this extraordinary act of courage and loyalty, the Vice President presented Papa with US$10,000 to help expand his business, drawing heartfelt applause from attendees.
The gathering brought together petty traders, farmers, transport operators, hoteliers, retailers, and other entrepreneurs’ men and women whose daily efforts form the economic backbone of Ganta City and Nimba County at large
