President George Weah has dismissed reports over the scarcity of rice in the country as “mere street gossip”.
He also affirmed that there was sufficient food to serve Liberians. The president said this in an interview with newsmen over the reported shortage of rice in the country.
In his words, “We need not always listen to the street gossip. This is not the first time it has happened. Those responsible for importing rice say we have rice up to next year. I don’t believe there’s rice scarcity I believe there is rice. We will verify it again. Don’t listen to the noise in the street.”
President Weah, who returned to the country at the end of his trip to New York where he attended the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), said the information he gathered from rice importers meant there was no need to worry.
When grilled over alleged restrictions in the United States, Weah told journalists, “If you saw me in the video, I wasn’t on a restricted visa. My dog does not live at the UN headquarters nor my Ballon d’Or kept at the UN headquarters.”
Weah and delegation touched down Monday, September 26, at the Roberts International Airport to a hero’s welcome by thousands of enthusiastic Liberians made up of youth, women, elders, and chiefs, who chanted pro-Weah slogans and sang songs of praise to God in appreciation for the President’s safe return to the country.
But he departed the country a week ago to participate in the 77th United Nations General Assembly Debate. The President and delegation were also a part of the High-level week of the General Assembly that annually presents an opportunity for world leaders to come together yearly to discuss critical global issues.