By Alex Yomah
A 25 kilo gram bag of rice has seemingly become a ghost-like commodity and if found, it is compared to a “gold dust” due to its scarcity on the Liberian market.
Our reporter who toured the Sinkor belt yesterday disclosed that to locate any provision shop where rice is sold is difficult.
“All provision shops visited in and around Matadi were empty and those who have few bags have increased their prices from US$14. 00 to US$20.00 for a 25kg bag,” our reporter stated.
Initially, a 25kg bag of rice was sold for US$13.5 or USD14, but due to scarcity the price of rice in Liberian dollars is around LD 3,600 and above.
A petty trader who spoke to this paper in Matadi said, “If You were blessed to see a 25kg bag of rice, it is now being sold based on a mutual understanding between the seller and the buyer’s agreement.”
Another retail seller, Ma Theresa Karnga, said the shortage of rice on the market is something government must take seriously to avert any possible insurrection.
Adding, “The worst about this food crisis is, people have money to buy but they can’t see it to purchase. The next thing is, poor people like us who don’t have money to purchase rice at an exorbitant price like others for past few days go to bed hungry.”
According to Madam Karnga, she warned the government to remedy this staple food issue or else, if this search for food continues to next week, it won’t be good for government.
She recounted that Liberia’s civil crisis started because the price of rice was increased by then government. “Today, the price of rice is not just swelling astronomically but it is scarce on the market,” she added.
This paper further contacted importers of other goods including Rice and asked to give reason for the shortage of rice on the market.
In response, an importer who spoke on account of anonymity revealed that the Liberian government through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry should be blamed.
He added that commodities like onions, eggs and rice imported are scarce due to bureaucracy and the reported decision by MCI to withhold the Import Permit Declaration (IPD.
According to the importers, IPD is only issued by the Ministry of Commerce Industry (MCI).
“Any attempt to keep the IPD and give it to a particular importer for the purpose of controlling the market can be described as monopoly and that is the problem,” he concluded.
When the Ministry of Commerce was contacted in lieu of the allegation of seizing IPDs through its Public Affairs officer, Jacob Parley, he referred the message to Deputy Minister, Wilfred Bangura because according to him, he is sick.
However, while in contact with Minister Bangura, he asked our reporter to text his inquiries due to his busy schedule but failed to respond to the text until press time.