MONROVIA – The Liberia Scrap Buyers Association (LSBA) has sharply reacted to recent statements made by the President of the Liberia Scrap Dealers Association (LSDA), Mr. Ayouba Kamara, calling his remarks false and misleading. In a press release issued on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, LSBA accused Kamara of lying to the public about LSBA’s business registration status and their affiliation with LSDA.
“President of the Liberia Scrap Dealers Association is lying to the public that LSBA has registered their business and to their own Executive Committee they have the registration certificate and documents in their possession. That is a lie by the president Ayouba Kamara of the LSDA,” stated LSBA.
LSBA further alleged that Ayouba Kamara is corrupt and lacks credibility. Recently, Kamara told Smart News Liberia that members of LSBA, who are raising allegations against him, are members of another organization and not part of LSDA. He claimed they had created another association called the Scrap Buyers Association and thus are not affiliated with LSDA.
“They are not part of the LSDA because they’ve created another association,” Kamara stated. He argued that if the group had presented their concerns as part of the Scrap Dealers Association, he would have listened to their issues since they would be under the association’s jurisdiction.
However, LSBA condemned Kamara’s statements, accusing him of abusing his commitments to scrappers and making false claims. “Ayouba Kamara is confused, but all the lies will not help him. No credible leader will violate his own constitution as Mr. Ayouba Kamara has done in his capacity as president of one of the National Associations in the country,” LSBA asserted.
The controversy intensified when Chairman of the Executive Committee, Mr. James S. Yarclay, addressed a letter to LSBA President Mr. Kalifala Sanoe on July 4, 2024. The letter acknowledged the receipt of a petition from LSBA calling for Kamara’s resignation and the formation of an interim leadership until a free, fair, and transparent election is held.
During an emergency meeting of the LSDA Executive Committee, the majority sided with Kamara, arguing that LSBA members are not part of LSDA due to their separate association. They claimed that LSBA members had formed a new association and thus had no standing to demand Kamara’s resignation.
Kamara and his supporters also alleged that LSBA’s campaign for his removal was financed by North Star Industry, a major scrap buyer in Liberia, to the tune of $50,000. They claimed that LSBA had registered separately with the Liberia Business Registry and attempted to get approval from the Ministries of Mines and Energy and Justice but were rejected.
Despite these claims, LSBA insisted that there was no evidence showing their members had withdrawn from LSDA. They argued that ID cards, including certificates issued to LSBA members, clearly demonstrate their full membership in LSDA. LSBA emphasized that they consistently pay contributions to LSDA and possess membership ID cards issued by the association, which grant them the right to question its leadership.
Chairman Yarclay urged both LSDA and LSBA to engage in dialogue to avoid chaos and confusion that could harm the already struggling scrap industry. “Going to court will create unexpected problems and leave animosities among our scrappers, which is not healthy for an industry already suffering from foreign cartels,” Yarclay advised.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, several independent scrap dealers have expressed their frustration with the ongoing dispute, noting that the infighting is detrimental to the industry’s progress. They called for unity and cooperation, emphasizing the need for a stable and transparent leadership to attract potential investors and improve market conditions.
Furthermore, industry experts have cautioned that prolonged disputes could result in decreased productivity and a loss of market share to foreign competitors. They urged the conflicting parties to prioritize the industry’s well-being and seek a swift resolution. A unified approach, they argued, would facilitate better negotiations with international buyers and enhance Liberia’s scrap industry’s overall competitiveness.
Recently, over 400 members signed a resolution demanding Kamara’s immediate removal following accusations that he unilaterally organized a managed election and claimed victory without following proper procedures. The resolution arose from a May 4, 2024 meeting where members expressed dissatisfaction with Kamara’s leadership. The Liberia Scrap Buyers Association (LSBA) leadership invited all scrap dealers, including those from the LSDA, to address Kamara’s alleged illegitimate regime.
Members cited numerous violations, including Kamara’s failure to schedule regular meetings to discuss scrap prices and his alleged collusion with foreign scrap cartels, which jeopardized the economic survival of local scrappers. They claimed Kamara conducted elections without forming an election commission, as required by the LSDA constitution, and extended his term unlawfully beyond the three-year limit. Additionally, members alleged Kamara did not submit annual progress reports to the General Assembly and failed to secure a scrap yard for illegal scrap, as mandated by the LSDA constitution. They also accused Kamara of receiving personal benefits from Sethi, a millionaire scrap dealer, compromising his role as an advocate for local scrappers.
