Liberia: Gov’t Releases Covid-19 Stimulus Package Report
Former Commerce Minister Prof. Wilson Tarpeh, who spearheaded the stimulus package initiative
— Says over 2M Liberians benefited
The Government of Liberia, led by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has released its report on the Covid-19 stimulus package. The report states that over two million Liberians benefited from the food ration program, which was implemented to support citizens during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The program, known as the Government of Liberia-Covid-19 Household Food Support Program (COHFSP), targeted 500,000 food-insecure households, equivalent to approximately 2.5 million people based on the average household size in Liberia.
The report identifies the beneficiaries as vulnerable households affected by Covid-19, healthcare and frontline emergency workers, and at-risk groups such as disabled individuals, orphans, the elderly, disadvantaged youth, and those living in welfare institutions.
Released reently in Monrovia, the report provides detailed statistics on the number of households and individuals that received food rations in each county. For example, Bomi County had 17,085 households (85,425 individuals) benefit from the program, while Montserrado County recorded a significant number of beneficiaries, with 187,029 households (935,145 individuals) receiving food rations.
According to the report, about 18,627 households, amounting to 93,135 individuals, got it in Grand Cape Mount.
In Gbarpolu and Grand Bassa Counties, the report said 10,457 households amounting to 52,285 individuals were supplied, while 23,857 households constituting 119,285 beneficiaries.
In Grand Gedeh County, a total of 16,935 households (84,695 persons) benefited from the food ration, while 11,108 households (55,090 persons) got it in Grand Kru County.
Elsewhere in Lofa County, the report indicated that a whopping number of 29, 308 households constituting 165,725 individuals benefited from the food ration, while 27,609 households in Margibi County received it, which amounts to 138,045 individuals.
In Maryland County, the report unearthed that 129,730 households were served the food ration, which constitutes 648,150 individuals, and an additional 1645 beneficiaries in six welfare institutions were recorded for the COHFSP program.
In Montserrado County, it was recorded that a gigantic amount of 187,029 households benefited, which amounts to 935,145 individuals.
As for Nimba County, 58,757 households (293,785 persons) benefited, while 13,404 households constituting 64,915 individuals benefited from the food ration in River Gee County.
In Rivercess County, a total of 11,446 households (57,230 persons) got supplied, while 15,661 households constituting 78,305 persons were recorded to have benefited from the COHFSP program in Sinoe County.
The government implemented the program following the declaration of a state of emergency in April 2020, after the first Covid-19 case was reported in Liberia. It aimed to provide short-term food and nutritional support to vulnerable households during the restrictions imposed to contain the virus.
"Against this backdrop, the need arises for the Government of Liberia to assist the vulnerable population to meet their short-term food and nutritional needs during the restriction, which led to the government announcing the provision of a one-month food ration for the most vulnerable households through a COVID-19 Household Food Support Program," report said.
The program was financed through a US$25 million grant, with contributions from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Ministry of Agriculture/World Bank.
While the overall objectives of the COHFSP program were deemed successful in providing assistance to vulnerable populations during the pandemic, some concerns have been raised by Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, who questioned the distribution of food to the intended beneficiaries. The report states that the program supported over 2.3 million vulnerable Liberians, but there have been differing views on its effectiveness and distribution methods.
In conclusion, the government’s Covid-19 stimulus package report provides insights into the number of beneficiaries and the distribution of food rations to vulnerable households across Liberia during the pandemic.