THE DECISION put an abrupt halt to the lucrative rice empire of George Haddah, K &K, and other importers of rice from importing and otherwise dealing in rice in Liberia. INSTEAD OF FOCUSSING on a cartel of rice importers, and limiting the entire country at their mercies, the Weah-led government must immediately begin working toward improving the regular import of rice by encouraging competition and widening the number of traders able to access Import Permit Declarations (IPDs). THIS WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR impediment of the previous government which stifled calls to drop the IPD’s allowing an entire nation to lean on a cartel of foreign rice importers who dictate the market price for the country’s staple food. We cannot remain spectators in our own economy,” President Weah said in January. Will those in rural Liberia benefit from this supposed price reduction?

Source: Front Page Africa February 05, 2018 00:45 UTC