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A five-member Board of Directors of the Pampaya Multipurpose Cooperative Society (PAMCOS) has been formally installed and certified to operate as a legally recognized cooperative in Liberia. The installation ceremony, held recently in Camp Alpha, Gbarpolu County, marked a significant milestone for the community-based organization, which now holds an official two-year operational license valid until June 2027.
Those installed included John Y. Flomo, Chairperson, Idrisa Jalloh, Co-Chairperson, Robert Garziah, General Secretary, Augustine J. Lamin, Financial Secretary, and Ms. Fannia Say-geh, Treasurer.
Performing the induction and certification ceremony, the Registrar General of the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA), Madam Lwopu G. Kandakai, said that instead of certifying an agricultural cooperative, financial cooperative, or housing cooperative, it was rather a mining cooperative, which signifies a milestone achievement in the cooperative movement of Liberia.
Madam Kandakai noted that cooperatives are sending a clear and resounding message to the government under the stewardship of President Joseph Boakai that they are willing to work with the government by contributing financially to the national economy.
She indicated that cooperatives are proven catalysts for the eradication of poverty, job creation, and building resilient and inclusive economies, which are closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the ARREST Agenda.
The ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) provides the opportunity for cooperative societies to play a pivotal role in some key areas of interventions, targeting the formalization and building capacities of cooperatives with climate-resilient and ecological practices in agriculture, energy, and alternative livelihood programs.
The event at Camp Alpha also coincided with the launch of the new registration certificate to PAMCOS, which has a duration of two years and is embedded with a security code.
Early this year, the CDA launched a nationwide registration of all cooperative societies in Liberia to help the CDA know the locations of these cooperative societies, their status, the value chains, and market links.
This new registration certificate supersedes all other certificates that were previously issued to cooperative societies to operate as bona fide entities.
The installation and certification program was witnessed by the Deputy Registrar General for Cooperative Development Services (CDS), Hon. Edwina J. Boima, Mr. Winston Ngobeh, National Coordinator, Diamonds for Peace (DFP), Mr. Amer Yousef, Vice President, and scores of chiefs, traditional leaders, and community residents.
In his remarks, the newly installed Chairman of the PAMCOS Board, John Flomo, thanked the CDA for the event and promised to implement fully the provisions that are contained in the By-laws.
He promised to work cooperatively with the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and to ensure that proceeds derived from the diamond sales and agricultural products are shared judiciously with members of the cooperative.
Also speaking at the occasion, Mr. Winston Ngobeh, National Coordinator, Diamonds for Peace (DFP), challenged members of PAMCOS to work harder to change the narratives of dependence on investors/supporters who pay the mining costs and in return buy the recovered diamonds at their convenient prices, mostly at the disadvantage of the miners.
He told them not to sit down and wait for external or outside support before they could move. “Derive innovations, make and implement strategic plans, and be the drivers of your success. If you can do these things, DFP assures you of its fullest support as we believe in helping people who are motivated to help themselves”, Mr. Ngobeh stated.
So far, PAMCOS has received technical skills from DFP in rough diamond grading, responsible diamond mining, beekeeping, proper record keeping, and business plan development.
Coming up next for PAMCOS is the extension of an agroforestry project. Under this project, PAMCOS members will learn technical skills in growing cashew and vegetables; they will also have the opportunity to learn cocoa fermentation skills, as many of its members are involved in cocoa production.
