The government, in its effort to address the bread-and-butter issues affecting ordinary Liberians, has taken deliberate steps to reduce the prices of major essential commodities, including gasoline, rice, and flour. These actions were intended to ease the rising cost of living and bring direct relief to households across the country.
The government has reduced import or wholesale prices to deal with “bread-and-butter” issues, but market prices are still the same. The problem is no longer policy, it’s implementation, enforcement, and trust.
However, it is deeply concerning that despite these reductions, many business operators and service providers have failed or refused to adjust the prices of basic commodities and transportation fares. As a result, the intended benefits of government interventions are not reaching the people, and unnecessary hardship continues to be imposed on already struggling families.
Across the country, the reality facing ordinary Liberians remains harsh, the President in his SONA said that a 25kg bag of rice is sold for 14.50 USD, but small market cups of rice remain expensive, forcing families to reduce meals and portions.
Transportation fares for taxis, kekehs, buses and motorbikes have not declined, despite reduced fuel prices, making it harder for workers, students, and traders to move daily.
The price of a bag of 100-pound flour has dropped to US$35, but prices of bread and local pastries, are still high, which is affecting schoolchildren and low-income households.
Cooking oil is still sold at very high price, forcing market women to break quantities into very small portions and families to cook less. Charcoal and firewood prices remain elevated due to transport costs, even locally produced goods such as cassava, pepper, bitter balls and vegetables are becoming unaffordable due to transportation costs and middlemen exploitation.
This situation is unacceptable. Price reductions at the national level must translate into fair and reasonable prices at the market level. Any deliberate refusal to pass on these reductions amounts to economic exploitation and undermines national efforts to stabilize the economy and protect the welfare of the people.
In light of this, Mr. President as you mentioned in your SONA that businesses that will exploit our people will be held accountable.
Therefore, Mr. President I am calling on you to establish a National Price Stabilization Task Force. To monitor and regulate prices in the country. This Task Force should include the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Transport, Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), relevant security agencies, and consumer protection groups. Its mandate should be to monitor prices, publish official reference prices for essential commodities, investigate price gouging and cartel behavior, and enforce compliance nationwide.
I further call on business owners, wholesalers, and importers to act responsibly and patriotically by adjusting prices in line with government reductions.
Transport operators and unions to immediately review and reduce fares consistent with the decrease in fuel prices.
Regulatory and enforcement institutions to strengthen market surveillance and apply appropriate sanctions against violators, while protecting small market women and low-income traders.
Liberia’s economic recovery cannot be achieved when relief granted by the government is blocked before it reaches the ordinary citizen. The suffering of the people must not become a profit opportunity for a few.
This is a call for fairness, accountability, and national solidarity. The people of Liberia deserve relief, not excuses. “Liberia before profit.” “Put Liberia first.” For “Fair prices, fair living.”
Issued by:
- Oxford Brown