By: Naomi Tappia
Liberians have decried the hike in prices of the country’s stable food, rice, which is the most desirable commodity on the market.
Social media platforms especially Facebook which has been dubbed as the “fifth estate” due to some reliable information it provides, had been submerged recently with news of increment in prices of rice across Liberia, a rumor the government dispelled by clarifying through the Ministry of Commerce that rice is available in the country and news about its scarcity is fake only intended to present the government negative to the public as general presidential elections approaches.
In recent weeks, the prices of different types of rice were hiked in both the rural and urban settings across the country leading many to believe the speculation in some quarters that the imported commodity was scarce with the government doing nothing to address the issue.
A barrage of condemnations on social media platforms and radio discourses according to Republican President George Weah, prompted him to embark on assessment tour to ascertain the truth of the matter after one of the popular talk show hosts in the country was heard by him and the masses on one of the local media platforms ‘Prime FM’ disclosing rice shortages at importer stores.
Addressing the media during his tour across the country, President Weah urged journalists to ensure that their reportage is unprejudiced, adding that the issue of rice scarcity should never be underestimated in the country as it once caused a major demonstration in Monrovia on April 14, 1979 that led to loss of lives and properties.
He called on journalists to always remember their ethics when discharging their reportorial duties in order to avoid disseminating falsehood that has potential to breed unnecessary chaos, making reference to what he allegedly heard on Prime FM concerning the shortage of rice in the country.
An anonymous source confided his reason to a journalist that importers are refusing to have their rice sold for the $13 USD as stipulated by the government due to high tariff placed on imported goods which affects income generation from their goods.
Scores of Liberians have urged the government to import rice and sale it to the public with a fixed prices of the variety of rice by the government to curtail the inflation the country is currently facing.
