Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah has denied allegations that the Ministry of Agriculture is importing rice from China and repackaging it as locally produced, saying the Ministry purchases paddy rice from farmers in Foya, Lofa County, for local processing and packaging.

The allegation was raised by Nimba County District Five Representative Kortor Kwapue, who also questioned a government contract for the supply of 200 cattle to Grand Kru County, alleging a possible conflict of interest involving the Minister and the contractor.

Responding to the rice allegation in an interview with reporters, Nuetah said the Ministry was not involved in importing rice for repackaging and sale.

“We are not in the business of selling rice. Why should we be interested in repackaging rice for the public?” he said.

The Minister explained that the Ministry purchases paddy rice from smallholder farmers in Foya and sends it to local processors for milling and packaging.

“The farmers out there will reach out to us to produce; they don't have a market for it. Then we can buy the rice from there, they process it, and he brings it for us,” Nuetah said.

He identified Mohamed V. Kamara, head of the Agricultural and Infrastructural Investment Company (AIIC), as a processor contracted by the Ministry.

Nuetah said the Ministry had worked with local processors to supply 1,000 bags of locally produced rice following a request from a major rice importer. He also said the STAR project provided approximately 500,000 empty bags for different local rice processors.

According to the Minister, the Ministry purchases paddy rice from farmers before it is milled and packaged under local brands, including Foya Queen.

Documents provided by the Ministry include a memorandum of understanding dated July 7, 2026, between the Ministry and AIIC for the supply and processing of rice.

A Ministry of Agriculture Public Sector Investment Project payment voucher dated March 25, 2026, records a payment of US$2,000 for 200 bags of processed rice delivered to the Ministry. The voucher lists milling, transportation, fuel and empty bags among the associated costs.

A separate AIIC cash receipt dated July 8, 2026, records US$12,960 as a partial payment toward the procurement of 1,000 bags of paddy rice and milling. The receipt lists an original amount of US$13,500, a four-percent tax deduction and an outstanding balance of US$14,500.

AIIC's business registration certificate, issued in May 2026, lists mixed farming and other commercial activities among its registered operations, with its business addresses located in Lofa County.

The Minister said journalists could visit the processing facility in Foya and offered to provide the supplier's contact information to facilitate further inquiries.

CATTLE CONTRACT ALLEGATION

Representative Kwapue also questioned the Ministry's contract for the supply of 200 cattle to Grand Kru County, raising concerns about a possible personal relationship between Nuetah and the contractor.

The Minister denied having a personal relationship with the supplier and said the contract was processed through the government's procurement system before it was presented to him for signature.

“I don't get involved with processes,” Nuetah said, explaining that the Ministry's procurement team handles the process and that he signs the final contract after its approval.

He said suppliers apply through the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) system, where bids are evaluated before contracts are presented for approval.

“As I sit here, all the vendors that are supplying this Ministry, I have no personal relationship with any of them,” he said.

Nuetah also addressed the delivery of the cattle, acknowledging that 24 animals died and saying the contractor agreed to replace them.

According to the Minister, the contractor subsequently delivered two batches of 40 cattle each to Grand Kru County. He said the county authorities received the animals and urged journalists to verify the deliveries with the county superintendent.

Nuetah maintained that he did not know the contractor personally and said the procurement records and contract could be examined to establish the details of the arrangement.