BY: H. Richard Fallah
MONROVIA: Liberia`s former Minister Finance and Development Planning, Amara Mohammed Konneh, has noted that the future of Liberia is at risk.
Speaking in Logan town, on Bushrod Island recently at a program marking the inauguration of the student council government of Liberia Muslim Foundation Arabic and English School, former Minister Konneh said, it is now time for Liberians to wake up from their slumber if the nation should have better days ahead.
Although Minister Konneh was not specific, some of the program attendees were of the view that he was making reference to the current wave of drugs importation, addiction and proliferation in the country.
He said, it is unfortunate to see everyone sitting and watching the youthful generation being washed away.
“The future of Liberia is at the risk, because a lot of young people are taking in drugs,” he declared later.
Konneh, a former World Bank Executive, who is eying the Senatorial Seat of Gbarpolu County in Western Liberia stated that it is regrettable to see drugs entering the country continuously without much being done in line with proper investigation.
Konneh: “Drugs worth millions of dollars have been arrested in this country. But, how far are we with the investigation? We need to do more, if the needed results must come.”
He told the array of students, their family members and friends who were in attendance not to focus on the current day negatives that are affecting the fabric of the nation, but to rise up and give a better picture to the youth of Liberia by rising above drugs addiction and proliferation, and to strive for quality education.
In October 2022, Liberia was at the zenith of World news for the wrong reasons, after a joint operation, involving the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA), and the National Security Agency (NSA) arrested a 31-year-old Bissau Guinean national, identified as Malam Conte, on suspicion of his involvement into the importation of illicit drugs worth a whooping US$100m.
Commentators say the One Hundred million street values is about 25% of the Liberia’s National Budget and an estimated 15% of the Liberian GDP.
