Published: September 3, 2025
MONROVIA — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has announced sweeping price cuts for rice and flour, ordering immediate nationwide enforcement to ease financial strain on Liberian households and stabilize the food market.
Under the new directive, a 25-kilogram bag of rice will now sell for US$14, down from US$16.75, while a 100-pound bag of flour drops from US$39 to US$35.
The decision, unveiled Tuesday evening in a statement from the Executive Mansion, followed recommendations from the Presidential Ad-Hoc Committee on Price Contradictions, chaired by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung.
Boakai said the reductions reflect his administration’s commitment to ensuring access to affordable food, describing the move as part of a broader strategy to strengthen food security and protect struggling families.
“This is about relief for our people,” Boakai said. “We are working with producers and importers to maintain fair and sustainable trade practices that safeguard continuous supply.”
The president instructed the Ministry of Commerce and Industry inspectorate and relevant stakeholders to enforce the new prices nationwide without exception. He warned businesses against profiteering or market manipulation.
“Any individual or business found creating arbitrary price increases will face the full weight of the law,” Boakai cautioned.
Boakai said the Ad-Hoc Committee will continue consultations with market stakeholders to monitor costs and explore additional opportunities for further reductions.
The policy comes as many Liberians grapple with rising living costs, making food affordability a pressing national issue. By directly targeting rice—Liberia’s staple—and flour, widely used for bread and other foods, the government hopes to ease pressure on households and restore consumer confidence.
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