By: Varney Dukuly
MONROVIA: President George Manneh Weah on Monday, April 3, 2023, provided five million Liberian dollars and five thousand bags of rice to Muslims residing in the fifteen political sub-divisions of Liberia.
Weah, 56, was elected as President of Liberia in 2017 after winning fourteen of the fifteen counties.
Observers are of the view that his administration’s support for Muslims in Liberia has been one of his major priorities since Weah’s ascendency to state power.
When it was formally announced that on March 22 Muslims had begun the Holy month of Ramadan which takes into account Fasting and Praying as requires by Islam, President Weah wish Muslims across the country well and expressed the hope they would pray for genuine reconciliation, peace and stability of the country.
“Today the President has made available some rice and soup kind that is cash that will help people to buy little soup to go along with the rice that we will be distributed. The total amount of money is five million Liberian dollars and five thousand bags of rice,” said Internal Affairs Minister, Varney Sirleaf, on behalf of the Liberian President.
Ramadan is the Holiest month according to the Islamic calendar, which is marked by fasting, reflection, charity and prayers.
This year’s Ramadan began, for most Muslims worldwide on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Minister Sirleaf who was accompanied by Bong County Superintendent, Esther Walker, said Bong has got its share of two hundred fifty thousand Liberian dollars (L$250,000) and three hundred bags of rice.
The money and rice which are expected to be distributed in the various counties based on the given Muslim population will also be under the supervision of county’s superintendents, Minister Sirleaf added.
“Nimba County will receive 400 bags of rice and four hundred thousand Liberian dollars; Lofa County, 500 bags of rice and five hundred thousand; Grand Cape Mount County, 300 bags of rice and 300 thousand; Margibi, 200 bags of rice and 200 thousand; Gbarpolu, 150 bags of rice and 250 thousand Liberian dollars” he said.
The Minister mentioned that “Grand Bassa, River Cess County, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland, Grand Kru, and Sinoe Counties got 100 bags of rice and 100 thousand Liberian dollars respectively.”
But, Montserrado County given its concentrated Muslim population, the Minister indicated will receive two thousand one hundred bags of rice and two million one hundred thousand, totaling five million Liberian dollars and five thousand bags of rice.
The Internal Affairs Minister showered praises on the President for the gesture towards the Muslims community in the country.
He said: “I just want to thank the President for identifying with fasting Muslims during the month of Ramadan; he has been doing it and I just want to thank him as Muslim myself.”
Speaking Monday, April 3, 2023, at a news conference held at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Monrovia, Minister Sirleaf used the occasion to call on all Muslims in the country to take advantage of the ongoing Voter Registration process.
He said it is the anticipation of the President that all eligible citizens will take advantage of the VR process in order to make sound voting decision during the October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections.
“The President has sent a message behind this which is not a condition for giving the rice or the support to the Muslims; he wants us to line up and go and register. If you registered, then, you become a participant in the ensuing elections,” Minister Sirleaf noted.
