By Stephen Tokpah
-Bong (freelance)
Bong County Senator Johnny Kpehe is under fire from constituents after the failure of his controversial “White Rice Project,” an initiative aimed at distributing imported rice to residents in the county.
The backlash has been compounded by Senator Kpehe’s previous campaign claim that he was the only Liberian exporting rice to the United States; a statement that now rings hollow in light of the project’s shortcomings.
The White Rice Project, unveiled earlier in 2023, was marketed as an emergency intervention to combat food insecurity in Bong County.
Under the program, the senator’s office distributed re-bagged of imported rice to residents, touting it as a way to address hunger in the region, especially claiming that the rice was produced from his farm.
However, the initiative has faced significant criticism for being a temporary fix than a sustainable solution.
Critics have accused Senator Kpehe of ignoring the agricultural potential of Bong County, a region known for its fertile land and farming communities.
They argue that the program undermines local farmers by promoting dependency on imported goods instead of empowering them to produce rice locally.
“Senator Kpehe had the opportunity to invest in our farmers, to give them the tools and resources needed to grow rice locally,” said Gloria Kollie, a market vendor in Gbarnga.
“Instead, he chose to import rice and distribute by re-bagging it. This is not the leadership we deserve,” Kollie said.
Adding to the criticism is Senator Kpehe’s bold claim during his election campaign that he was the only Liberian exporting rice to the United States.
At the time, the statement positioned him as a leader with a deep understanding of agriculture and an advocate for local production.
Many Bongese are questioning the veracity of those claims, given his reliance on imported rice for the White Rice Project.
“If he can export rice to America, why is it that our government is importing rice for us here in Liberia?” asked Emmanuel Gono, a youth of Suakoko District, Bong County.
“This contradiction shows that his campaign promises were just words, not backed by any real action or results,” Gono added.
The controversy surrounding Senator Kpehe’s rice initiatives has sparked a broader conversation about his leadership, accountability, and sustainable development in Bong County.
The citizens are now looking for actions that match the senator’s promises and solutions that empower the community rather than create dependency.
Senator Kpehe faces mounting pressure to rebuild trust and demonstrate a commitment to meaningful change.
Whether he can rise to the challenge remains to be seen, but one thing is clear and that is the Bongese are demanding more than just words; they want results.
Henry Kolleh, a youth of Kpatawee clan in Suakoko District 5, said the Bong County Senator’s allegation was just intended to fool the electorates to have him elected.
The Kpatawee native wondered why the Bong County Senator chose to lie to the people of Bong County and Liberia at large of exporting the country stable food rice when the government spends millions of United States dollars on the importation of the same commodity from India and other countries.
