Tuesday, October 10, Liberians will be called to vote in general elections: they will have to elect senators, deputies, and a new president. The outgoing president, George Weah, is seeking a second term. These elections are being held in an unfavorable economic context: inflation is at 7.8% and Liberians are experiencing difficulties.
2 mins
With our special correspondent in Monrovia, Bineta Diagne
“There are no customers,” says Tawyia, who sells colloquial, a local dish made from rice and soup. “ Times are tough: I sell almost nothing. The little money I earn, I use it for the survival of my household “.
A stone’s throw away, several dozen sellers display plastic shoes and second-hand clothes from Europe. Among them, Rebecca Kandaka, a mother. “ Rice and vegetables have become expensive. Before, my daily groceries cost $5. Today, my budget varies between 15 and 20 dollars per day. It’s difficult “.
Tensions on international markets have repercussions on the local economy, because the country imports a lot of products. But growth this year is around 5%. According to Professor Lester Tenny, the dean of the economics department at the University of Liberia, it is still some time before Liberians feel the effects of this growth. “ If growth is sustained for several years, it is passed on to households. That is to say that this sustained growth will promote employment, people will have better incomes and will therefore be able to save. So each year, if we have growth of 5.3% on average, this must remain sustained for at least 5 years. And this will impact individuals “.
In a recent report, the World Bank encourages investment in agriculture. According to this institution, the improvement in local production of rice and cassava this year contributed to growth.
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