By: H. Richard Fallah
A regional security group, styled: ‘Criminal Justice Support Foundation For West Africa,’ has strongly called on the incoming government of President-elect, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, to reach out to members of the presidential elite force, Executive Protection Service (EPS), who have threatened to disrupt the pending inauguration of the President-elect.
EPS officers have earlier threatened to disrupt the inauguration of President-elect, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, if money deducted over the years from their salaries by some EPS is not given back to them by the EPS authorities. It is not clear how the money for the EPS officers was allegedly used by some officials of the presidential elite force.
However, the Criminal Justice Support Foundation For West Africa wants the incoming Boakai Government to assure aggrieved EPS officers that their money will be retrieved and that anyone responsible for the reported mismanagement of the funds will be held accountable and brought to justice.
The Criminal Justice Support Foundation for West Africa has also called on the incoming government, particularly the Senate, which is the Upper House of the country’s bicameral Legislature to thoroughly vet all presidential nominees for national security and executive positions before confirmation.
The Criminal Justice Support Foundation for West Africa, a non-governmental institution, which is inclusive of several civil society groupings, in a special statement, signed and issued by its President, Cecil B. Griffiths, on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, noted that the essence of its call to the incoming 55th legislature is to ensure that every appointment is aligned with the agency’s laws and regulations.
The group maintained that the Senate`s action will ensure that presidential nominees do not have tainted human rights and criminal records or corrupt tendencies, thereby enhancing operational effectiveness and public trust.
The Liberia National Police Act 2015, Section 22.76 provides that “The Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General’s shall be person (s) of proven integrity, high moral standards and undisputed competence in matters relating to the security sector and a graduate from a recognized university with at least a bachelor’s degree.
The group further urged the Senate to do due diligence for appointments of individuals of other law enforcement agencies, which do not have similar provisions in their establishment Acts.
Urging the incoming administration to review, update, and approve a comprehensive National Security Strategy that addresses current challenges and future threats, the security group noted that the security landscape of Liberia has evolved, and that that the national security strategy needs to reflect its progress. Cecil B. Griffiths: “Our security is the bedrock upon which our nation thrives. We call upon the incoming administration to implement these recommendations to foster a safer, more secure, and more inclusive society.”
“A National Security Strategy is a comprehensive plan developed by a country to protect and promote its national interests, values, and security: it serves as a guiding document that outlines the country’s objectives, threats, and the means to address those threats in order to achieve its security goals,” the group noted.
Liberia’s National Security Strategy was developed in 2008 and should have been revised in 2018.
The revised draft National Security Strategy was prepared by the erstwhile Administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and turned over to the now outgoing Administration of President George Manneh Weah, for review and approval.
Unfortunately, according to the group, the revised draft strategy was not attended to, thus leaving the security services in a state of stupor.
The Criminal Justice Support Foundation for West Africa remains hopeful that the incoming administration will prioritize the review and approval of the Revised National Security Strategy within the first six (6) months of its leadership.
It has on the other hand, encouraged the incoming Boakai led government to enhance the effectiveness and responsiveness of the Bureau of Correction and Rehabilitation, now under the Ministry of Justice. It noted that it is crucial to grant the Bureau of Correction and Rehabilitation semi-autonomous status.
The Liberia Corrections Service Act was reviewed and validated by experts from stakeholders including the American Bar Association, the Law Reform Commission, the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association, and the Department of Codification of the Ministry of Justice, among others.
The exercises were under the sponsorship of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The current version of the Act is before the Legislature for passage, after its submission more than fifteen years ago.
“We urge the incoming government to ensure the passage of this Act to empower the Bureau to develop staff and programs to meet international standards relating to segregation of prisoners by sex, age and type of crimes committed, facilitate effective gender mainstreaming with the system, respond to the unique challenges it faces and improve the delivery of services,” the group maintained.
The Criminal Justice Support Foundation for West Africa is in partnership with several Civil Society Working Group on Security Sector Reform and Governance, comprising the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association, Community Watch Forum of Liberia, Center for Justice and Peace Studies, Citizens Initiative for Dialogue, the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), the Criminal Justice Association of Liberia, Rural Human Rights Activist Program, the Federation of Liberian Youths, Prison Fellowship Liberia, and the National Coalition of Civil Society Organizations of Liberia.
