The Government of Liberia (GOL), through the COVID-19 Food Distribution Steer Committee, has begun the distribution of the COVID-19 Household Food Supply Process (COHFSP). The process started on Saturday, June 13, 2020, in Bassa Town Community, district #8, Montserrado County, with the most vulnerable citizens.
Speaking during the commencement ceremony at the Bassa Town Palava Hut, the district’s Representative, Moses Acarous Gray, applauded the Presidential Steering Committee on the food distribution for starting the process in district #8. He assured the committee that residents of the district, through their community chairmen, will work smoothly along with the committee to have the process transparent.
He called on residents of the 23 communities across the district to remain peaceful in the process and cooperate with the committee. Representative Gray told recipients not to commercialize the food given by the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government to help the most vulnerable citizens during this global pandemic, which has caused economic hardship in the country.
Gray admonished Liberians not to politicize the outbreak of the virus. According to him, the distribution, which started in his district, is in line with the resolution signed by the Legislature and the President’s proclamation for the state of emergency. He pointed out that critics of the government who thought that the food distribution would not be possible can now believe that the CDC government cares for the people.
For his part, the Chairman of the Steering Committee, Wilson Tarpeh, Minister of Commerce and Industry, applauded the government and international partners for the effort to have the food secured. The Minister emphasized that the entire process will be community-driven and not only the Steering Committee. He cautioned residents of the beneficial communities across the country to cooperate with the committee and take ownership in the distribution process.
In Bassa Community, Minister Tarpeh said the committee will distribute food to 478 households, with each household receiving 2 bags of 25kg rice, 1 gallon of oil and 28 cups of beans. The process, according to him, will continue across the country, beginning with the four initial affected counties. After the distribution in Montserrado, Margibi, Nimba and Grand Kru counties, the minister indicated, it will continue in other parts of the country. He commended the National Legislature for the support to the process and assured the Liberian people that the food will be fairly distributed.
Some of the beneficiaries who received supplies from the Saturday distribution are Francis George, Esther Toe, Sundayway Tie, David Roberts, among others. The beneficiaries praised President George M. Weah for the gesture. Esther Toe told the Hot Pepper that throughout her life government has not given her rice, and that President Weah is the first President to do this.