After a heated deliberation with importers of rice and flour on the sudden increase in the prices of these commodities, the minister of Trade and Industry, Alimamy P Koroma has announced a sudden decrease in their prices.
In his statement to media practitioners and stakeholders at the ministry’s auditorium, the minister said, “the ministry wishes to remind the general public that the government is committed to international trade liberalization policies.”
He however noted that,” given the present circumstance in Sierra Leone, the ministry of Trade and industry has had cause to engage various stakeholders especially importers on the prices of commodities and wishes the general public to know that with immediate effect the prices of rice and flour are as follows: imported flour Le 100,000 per 50 kg bag; locally manufactured flour Le 115,000 per 50 kg bag; Chinese rice Le 66,000 per 50 kg bag; Pakistan rice 25% broken Le 78,000 per 50 kg bag,
Indian rice 25% broken Le 78,000 per 50 kg bag; OAU Chinese rice 25% broken 74,000 per 50 kg bag; Per boiled rice Le 82,000 per 50 kg bag.”
The minister appealed to all business people to abide by these prices, adding that, “it should be noted that profiteering is an offence against the law.”