-Liberians express frustration
By Jerromie S. Walters
Liberia has an awkward history of rice, especially when one is to reference the famous rice riot that took place on April 14, 1979. Unfortunately, the country is yet to address the complex situation surrounding its staple food.
Following the government pronouncement about the slight increment in the price of 25kg rice on the Liberian, WomenVoices ascertains what Liberians make of it. Howbeit, local rice vendors, ordinary business persons, and economists believe it wasn’t timely and it has the proclivity to undermine Liberian’s confidence in the current administration.
Rice is Liberia’s staple food but the West African national has for decades struggled to strengthen its agricultural sector to grow more rice. Because of this, the country has solely relied on imported rice. As a result of adjustments in the price on the global market, different governments have suffered lashes over attempts to increase the price here.
As the government recently announced an increment in the price of rice in Liberia, Hannah Togbah, a local vendor in Monrovia says it is early for the government to entertain an increment in the price of rice on the Liberian market. “It’s too early for rice price to be like this. How many months he has made there? This month made him four months quick so rice price has gone up so if he leaves there for three years where Liberia will be?”
She stressed: “Boakai is not a stranger in Liberia. We Liberians we love rice more than anything. You can do anything in Liberia, if we don’t have the food it will be nothing. We put him there because we know that he was there for 12 years so we said he would do better. He said he would be better than George Weah so we put him there but we put him there things getting worse than before.”
She called on the President to engage with importers or provide subsidies to adjust the price of rice on the Liberian market, to reduce the food burden on Liberians. “I want for him to talk to the people and let them bring the rice price down.
It was reported that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai met with importers on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to address issues surrounding the increment in the price of rice. Following the engagement, the Executive Mansion reported that there would be no increment in the price of rice. “Following the meeting with Rice Importers, President Boakai says there will be no increment in the price of rice.”
Nevertheless, Joanna Mathias and Cecelia Clarke are two of many Liberians who don’t seem okay with the increment in the price of rice. They expect President Boakai to understand Liberians’ desire for rice. According to them, the recent increment has made them and scores of their colleagues unhappy with the leadership they supported.
Enraged in disappointment, another local rice vendor at Rally Town market reacts to the situation with a famous Liberian slogan that indirectly speaks to acting on government mandate but ensuring that her profit is generated. “The way they beat the drum that’s the way we will dance it. If you carry the rice to five thousand we will buy it, six thousand we will buy it I don’t have anything to do with it, all I know is I should just get my market money. The way I will buy it that’s the way I will sell it.”
She added, “I used to buy it three thousand four hundred and sell it sixty and fifty but now I bought it three thousand seven hundred so I’m selling it sixty and seventy.” However, with the new price, she said the rice is not being bought.
Economist’s thought
Renowned Liberian economist, Samuel Jackson, in response to an inquiry by this paper, criticized the government’s management of the situation, stating that the President’s meeting with importers only after the price hike was already announced appeared to be an afterthought.
According to Mr. Jackson, the price increase will have a severe impact on the poorest Liberians, particularly those residing in outlying counties. As many Liberians know, he emphasized that rice is a strategic political and security commodity and stressed the importance of managing price increases to minimize the effects on the majority of the population, who are struggling with poverty.
“The rice price increase wasn’t managed properly by the Government. The President is meeting with importers only after the price has been announced. This action appears as an afterthought. The price increase will hit the poorest Liberians very hard. Especially those in outlying counties,” he told WomenVoices.
Jackson questioned whether the government had considered reducing other local charges on rice before agreeing to the price increase, such as local stevedoring charges, medtech charges, and APM terminal charges. He also expressed skepticism about the economic sense of subsidizing imported rice.
He stressed, “Rice is a strategic political and security commodity. Price increases should be managed to minimize the effects on the poor people who are more than half of the population. I’m not sure if the government sought to reduce other local charges on the commodity before agreeing to a price increase. Like local stevedoring charges. Medtech charges? APM terminal charges etc.”
Moreover, the controversial Liberian economist called on the government, led by an agriculturist president in Mr. Boakai, to present a strategic plan for achieving rice self-sufficiency in Liberia. He urged transparency and proactive measures to ensure food security for the nation’s citizens.
Howbeit, he doesn’t appear as one who supports subsidies for importers. “I don’t think it makes economic sense to subsidize imported rice. Going further the agriculturist president should show us his strategic plan for rice self-sufficiency!”
On Monday, May 20, 2024, the Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Minister of Commerce and Industry Amin Modad, announced that it has agreed to a request from importers to increase the price of a specific brand of rice on the local market, describing the rice industry as a “cartel.”
Addressing the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing in Monrovia on Monday, Minister Modad disclosed that in February this year, the government received a communication from rice importers citing several previous communications addressed to the past government, requesting an increase in the price of rice on the local market from US$17 to US$20.
“We also negotiated with them that our priority is to reduce the cost. If we were to consider all the issues they raised to increase the price of that particular rice, we obligated them to ensure that there were several varieties of rice on the market that would be sold for US$16 or less. They committed to do so.”
Legislature intervenes
The Honorable House of Representatives has unanimously agreed to invite the Minister of Commerce and Industry to explain the reasons for the recent increment in the price of 25k bags of rice.
Plenary took the decision on Tuesday ( May 21, 2024) after Montserrado District#9 Representative Frank Saah Foko, and Rep. Mathew F. Joe Representative of District#3 Grand Bassa County separately wrote the honorable body. Commerce Minister Amin Modad and the Minister of Agriculture are expected to appear before the plenary next Tuesday to explain the major reasons behind the increment in the price of 25k bag of rice.
Recent global report has proven that poverty in Liberia is real and pundits have stressed that the government must launch a frontal attack on it. According to a new World Bank report, 3.5 million Liberians live in poverty, with 1 million in extreme poverty and 2.5 million in absolute poverty.
The 2023 Liberia Poverty Assessment Report: Towards a More Inclusive Liberia also highlights that 3 out of 10 people in Monrovia live in poverty, and 8 out of 10 in rural areas. Economists say reducing poverty is the new government’s biggest challenge.
Reflecting on the past
Liberia has a horrible history of rice as the famous rice riot is always a classic example. The Liberia rice riot occurred on April 14, 1979, in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia. The riot was sparked by a sharp increase in the price of rice, a staple food in Liberia, due to the government’s decision to increase the price of rice by 50 percent as part of an economic reform program.
The riot quickly escalated into widespread violence and looting, with protesters attacking government buildings, businesses, and vehicles. The government responded by declaring a state of emergency and deploying the military to suppress the rioting.
The riot resulted in deaths. The government eventually reversed the price increase on rice in an attempt to calm the situation. The Rice Riot is considered a significant event in Liberian history as it highlighted the economic and social tensions in the country, as well as the dissatisfaction of the population with the government’s policies.
