The Native Consortium and Research Centre (NCRC) has condemned the recent hike in prices for a bag of flour in the country.

“The NCRC is urgently calling on H.E President Bio to intervene in the astronomical hike in the price of bag of flour resulting to an artificial scarcity created by flour importers and the 92% increase within a week,” the Consortium said.

The local NGO prodded the President to engage stakeholders in the flour industry including the Trade Minister, Pee Cee & Sons and Juldeh Shaw among others.

“In as much as the political period matters but we are calling on Mr. President that our bread and butter matters most,” they said.

Late last week there were rumours that bakers and bakery owners were preparing to go on strike due to a shortage of flour in the market.

A large portion of Sierra Leoneans heavily depend on bread after the rice staple food. Some homes in the West African nation alternate bread to rice safeguard cost but the recent price hike has seen the size of bread reduced.

Sierra Leone, like most countries in the sub-region is currently experiencing inflation. The country’s Central Bank predicted that the trend would likely continue due to the rise in foreign currencies against the Leones and protracted effects of the Ukraine War.