Renowned human rights advocate Titus B. Pakalah is calling on the government, through President Joseph Boakai and the Ministry of Agriculture, to launch a Civil Society Reference Working Group on Food Security in response to Liberia’s alarming hunger crisis.
His call comes on the heels of the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), which gives Liberia a score of 31.9, placing the country in the “serious” category of global hunger levels.
Speaking in an interview yesterday Mr. Pakalah stressed that the data highlights an urgent need for coordinated action.
Citing the report, Mr. Pakalah noted that undernourishment in Liberia affects approximately 38.4% of the population.
He described this figure as deeply concerning, particularly as hunger-related challenges continue to affect daily life across the country.
In addition, Liberia’s child stunting rate—an indicator of chronic malnutrition—is currently at 29.8%, showing that nearly one in three children under five years old are not growing properly due to poor nutrition.
He also highlighted that 3.4% of children under five suffer from wasting, which reflects acute under nutrition, while the under-five mortality rate stands at 7.3%.
“This is a national emergency hiding in plain sight,” Mr. Pakalah stated, pointing out that hunger and malnutrition are no longer abstract data points but are now evident in the lived experiences of everyday Liberians.
To address this, he is urging President Boakai and the Ministry of Agriculture to establish a joint Civil Society Working Group, which would gather grassroots-level data from communities across the country to build a clearer picture of how hunger is affecting the population.
“The goal is to shift the conversation from economic theories to the harsh realities of daily life for ordinary Liberians,” Mr. Pakalah explained.
“The data collected by civil society will drive more effective, targeted interventions and help ensure that resources are directed where they are most needed.”
He emphasized that hunger knows no political party, and dismissed any suggestion that public complaints about hardship are politically motivated.
“These cries are not just coming from members of one party. Liberians across the board are struggling, and the government must listen.”
According to him, popular radio shows and community street interviews are flooded with real-time accounts of hunger and economic hardship.
He said this should not be dismissed or politicized but rather treated as urgent feedback from citizens.
Mr. Pakalah argued that although President Boakai may not be able to “put food on every table,” the government can adopt innovative policies to tackle food insecurity.
Among his recommendations is the expansion of agricultural subsidies for smallholder farmers, who are vital to Liberia’s food supply chain.
He also called for a national reassessment of hunger conditions, to better understand the frequency, causes, and severity of food insecurity in both urban and rural areas. Mr. Pakalah concluded by urging the government to act quickly and collaboratively with civil society to prevent the hunger crisis from worsening. “This is not about blame—it’s about survival. The time to act is now.”