By Pewu Y. Sumo
Monrovia – Following announcement from the Executive Mansion on September 2, 2025 that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai significantly reduced the prices of flour and rice following report and recommendation from the Presidential Ad-Hoc Committee on Price Contradictions, chaired by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Liberians have raised concern over the effectiveness of the price reductions and its enforcement by businesses across Liberia.
In an exclusive interview with The Homeland TV today, September 3, in Monrovia, a strong supporter of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Desmond Wreyou expressed his concern about the enforcement of the reduction announced by the President in order to have an impact on the ordinary Liberians.
Wreyou said, “After the President announced the reduction of rice price, I was happy, but I want to see it coming to fruition”, he said.
“I want to see the Commerce Ministry getting to work, that what the President said, so we can see the trickledown effect on the ordinary citizens”, Wreyou lamented.
He argued that the prices reduction will only be important on the lives of ordinary Liberians when they go in the market to buy a cup of rice and buy it lower than the current price of 50LD or 60LD for a cup.
“I can’t say rice price drop then I go buy “cook board” the same 200LD or 250LD, then what is the need. I will be happy if we see changes in the price of “cook board” or the cup of rice that we buy”, Wreyou said.
Yesterday, September 2, President Boakai announced that the price of rice, which was at US$16.75 per 25kg bag, has been reduced to US$14.00 per 25kg bag while wholesale price of flour, which previously stood at US$39.00 per 100-lb bag, has now been reduced to US$35.00 per 100-lb bag.
According to a statement from the Executive Mansion, the Liberian leader further instructed the Ministry of Commerce inspectorates and all relevant stakeholders to ensure strict enforcement of the new prices across the country.
The Liberian leader cautioned that any individual or business found creating arbitrary price increases will face the full weight of the law.
The announcement from the President yesterday met widespread applause but critics remain concern over its enforcement.
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