As a practical demonstration of its commitment to empowering rural women farmers, owners of Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) and those selling on the tables (Liberia Marketing Association) across the country, the Liberian government has disbursed over L$8 million to 27 SMEs in Grand Bassa and Margibi counties. Checks for the 27 Liberian-owned SMEs, 21 of whom are from Grand Bassa County and 6 from Margibi, were presented to the beneficiaries by the government through the Communications Director at Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Jacob N.B. Parley, at the Grand Bassa County Service Center, Buchanan City on Tuesday, September 26,2023 during a brief program.
The disbursement of the checks, in the tune of L$3,000,000.00 (three million Liberian dollars) to each of the 27 SMEs is in fulfillment of President George Manneh Weah’s pledge to provide empowerment opportunities for rural Liberian women as a means of sustaining their livelihoods.
Speaking during the ceremony, the beneficiaries of the empowerment assistance thanked President George Weah for keeping his promise to empower rural Liberian women. They assured the Liberian Leader of using the amount received for the improvement of their businesses for the sustenance of their families.
The jubilant owners of the 27 Liberian-owned SMEs, whose faces kept beaming with smiles, said they would ensure the re-election of President Weah for always identifying with them.
Speaking during the program, the Superintendent of the Harbel Market, Esther Karnsuah, and LMA Superintendent for Margibi County, Elizabeth Kokolu, also joined the recipients to commend President Weah for the gesture.
The two Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) officials also reiterated their determination to push the message and need for President Weah’s re-election, considering his tireless efforts to see the lives of rural Liberian women improved through empowerment programs.
For his part, Grand Bassa County Superintendent, Eddie Williams, described President Weah as a man who is noted for keeping promises to his people. Williams however admonished the recipients to ensure that the assistance given them is properly utilized for their own betterment and to also serve as encouragement for additional future opportunities.
The President’s Empowerment Program for Rural Liberian Women was also extended to Bomi County on the same day the amount of L$1 million was presented to Rural Women Farmers in that part of Liberia.
The cash was presented on behalf of the government by Deputy Commerce Minister for Administration, Wilfred J.S. Bangura. Deputy Minister Bangura said the gesture was part of the President’s intervention for quick impact in their cassava project. He said the President’s vision for women empowerment is unmatched. “If you are not a market woman, you are a farmer. If you are not making farm then you are a member of the village savings. If you are not member of the village saving loan then you are a member of SMEs,” Deputy Minister Bangura added.
He also told the group of rural women farmers that there will be L$3,000,000.00 each for Rural Women Farmers, the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA), Village Saving Loan Associations (VSLAs) and for SMEs, bringing the total to L$12 million for the four groups in Bomi County. He emphasized that the empowerment program by the Liberian Leader is not new, but an initiative that has been running since President Weah was elected.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Acting Secretary General of the Bomi County branch of the Rural Women Farmers, Bendu S. Johnson, lauded the Liberian government, especially President Geroge Manneh Weah, for a promise kept.
“We want to thank the President for coming to our rescue,” Johnson said. She also hailed First Lady, Clar Marie Weah, for providing the land being used by the Rural Women Farmers of Bomi County.
The recent disbursement of checks to the four groups being earmarked under the President’s Empowerment Program of Rural Women has reached all of the 73 electoral districts of Liberia’s 15 counties.