By: Emmanuel S. Koffa | GNN Correspondent |Grand Kru County |
Prince S. Polee, Grand Kru County Acting Business Association Chain Person
Protective measures by national governments during the coronavirus crisis could provoke food shortages in southeastern Liberia mainly Grand Kru County.
Report gather by GNN revealed that Since the government of Liberia declared the State of Emergency (SoE) couple with its stay home action in conformity with the global pandemic preventive measure, one county that is expected to be highly affected by government decision will be Grand Kru County Southeastern Liberia, which is also the birth home of the Liberian leader.
According to reports, the SoE including the compulsory lockdown, came as a surprise when most of the traders in the county ware houses were almost empty.
Business men in the County are equally appealing to the government of Liberia to give traders the opportunities to import consumable commodities in the county to avoid the expected acute shortage of food, mainly Rice on the county’s parallel market
The worst is that upon its declaration of the state of emergency couple with its unexpected stay home action, governments restricted the flow of food, including all measures against free trade.
Government action thou it is aimed at preventing Liberian from being largely consumed by the deadly pandemic COVID-19 but traders believed that government should grant them the opportunity to continue the free flow of food to avoid food shortage of basic commodities in rural Liberia.
Prince Polee acting chain person of the Grand Kru business association told GNN recently that putting restriction on the flow of trade will be counterproductive should government of Liberia ignored the plight of consumers.
He said this is not the time for restrictions or putting in place trade barriers. Adding “it is about time to promote and protect the flow of food around the county to sustain family members.”
Prince Polee, acting chairman of the Grand Kru business group said the continued lockdown of grand Kru County by the Government continue to worry citizens, adding” that the lockdown which was put in place by the government to check the spread of the coronavirus is breeding a hunger.
COVID-19 which is presently ravaging the world like a monstrous invisible enemy has distorted virtually every corner of the globe with enormous mountains of deaths. “Liberia of course, is not an exception. Our land borders, the air, and the seaports have been deservedly shuttered to contain and ultimately mitigate the deadly fury of the murderous virus. Other communities of Grand Kru County, appears to be the very hot zone of this pandemic. “Everywhere in grand kru is locked down. The markets, the shops, the transportation services are now all halted, frozen by the Government directives since the start of April.
For his part, Joseph P. Wesseh, the association’s secretary general, the outbreak of Coronavirus has greatly affected the association.
Joseph Wesseh informed GNN that following consultations and negotiations it is now agreed upon for the Grand Kru Business Association to begin making meaningful contributions to impact the economy of the County.
Wesseh added that the association is cognizant of the basic health protocols and that it will ensure compliance to health fight the pandemic.
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