Claim: "The Government of Liberia, led by President Joseph Boakai, has officially banned children from selling in streets or communities, effective December 16, 2025."
Source: The Liberian Influence
Verdict: Partly True
Full Text: On November 16, 2025, The Liberian Influence—a popular blog with a strong presence on Facebook and Instagram—dropped a post that got people talking. They announced that the Boakai-led government had officially banned children from selling on the streets, with the ban supposedly taking effect December 16, 2025.
The post went viral. We're talking over 2.5k reactions, 1.2k comments, and 548 shares. Liberians had plenty to say about it.
Many people praised the move. But others raised important questions. David D. Yarzeah commented: "The government should put a mechanism in place before the law can pass. I support the law 100% but things need to be done before the implementation of the law."
Another commenter, Kou Sougbay, wrote: "Good idea, I'm begging the government to give free education from pre to 6th grade at least; parents can take it from there."
Why This Matters: Street Selling in Liberia
If you live in Monrovia, you know the scene. Children often very young ones selling cold water, snacks, and other goods on street corners and in traffic. It's become part of everyday life in neighborhoods like West Point, Clara Town, and Red Light.
These kids aren't out there for fun. Most are helping their families survive. But the situation has drawn international attention for all the wrong reasons.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor's 2024 report, Liberia has made some progress fighting child labor, but there's still a long way to go. The report notes that "labor and criminal law enforcement efforts are hindered by a lack of financial resources" and that "the government's social programs...are not sufficient to address the full scope of the problem."
Back in August 2024, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection signed an agreement with Street Child, an international NGO. Their goal? Remove 50,000 children from the streets by 2030.
The numbers are staggering. A 2022 government survey, done with UNICEF support, found that 366,584 children are living in street situations across Liberia. The causes? Poverty, neglect, and parents in rural areas being deceived with false promises of education for their kids in the city.
UNICEF defines Children in Street Situations (CiSS) as children whose survival and livelihood depend on what they can get from the streets.
The bigger picture is even more troubling. According to UNICEF Liberia, children under 15 make up 42 percent of the population, yet most are "trapped in a cycle of violence, poverty, and deprivation." In 2015, 89 percent of rape survivors were children, 39 percent of them 12 years old or younger. At least 31 percent of children aged 2-14 were engaged in some form of labor.
Verification: We dug into this claim, and here's what the evidence shows:
1. The December 16 Press Conference
On December 16, 2025, government officials held a joint press conference under something called the "Save the Future Project." Present were representatives from the Ministries of Gender, Labor, Justice, Monrovia City Corporation, Paynesville City Corporation, and the Liberia National Police.
The Minister of Gender announced, "The Government of Liberia issues a landmark joint resolution to end child exploitation and street situations. Ministries of Gender, Labor, Justice, the Monrovia City Corporation, Paynesville City Corporation, rally national support behind The Save The Future Project to abolish child street selling and begging."
But here's the key detail: She later clarified that "the ban on children selling and begging in the streets will take effect as of the 18th of December 2025, following all necessary engagements that are ongoing behind the scenes."
2. Official Confirmation
The day after the press conference, the Ministry of Gender posted an infographic confirming the ban.
3. Save the Future Project Weighs In
The Save the Future Project's official Facebook page also shared photos from the event, confirming that the ban takes effect on December 18, 2025.
4. Enforcement Begins
On December 22, 2025, the Ministry of Gender's task force was already out enforcing the ban. Spoon TV caught it live in parts of Monrovia.
Conclusion: Yes, the government did announce a ban on children selling and begging on the streets. But The Liberian Influence got the date wrong. The ban didn't take effect on December 16; it started on December 18, 2025.
That's why we're calling this claim partly true. The substance is correct, but the details matter.
As enforcement begins, many Liberians are watching closely. Will the government provide the support systems these vulnerable children and their families need? Will education become more accessible? Those are the questions that will determine whether this ban becomes a real solution or just another policy on paper.
