Latest reports in the local media, indicating that over 2,000 applicants for enlistment into the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) and its soon-to-begin training program have miserably failed a mandatory medical drugs test leaves much to be desired.
On July 18, 2024, LIS expressed its intension to recruit 500 officers to replace 318 retired personnel. The application process ran from July 22 to August 2, 2024.
Applications were received from interested individuals from various counties such as River Gee, Sinoe, Grand Gedeh, Bong, Nimba, and Lofa.
It is also gathered that a total of 9, 743 applicants were shortlisted for vigorous vetting which included written examinations, physical fitness test, and medical drugs screening.
It is gathered that of the 9,743 applicants who were shortlisted, 8,100 passed the written test, and 6,300 passed the physical fitness test.
It is also gathered that only 1,989 successfully passed the medical drugs test which was conducted by the African Medical Union.
Addressing a recent new conference at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), LIS Commissioner General, Stephine Zargo, disclosed that after the overall screening process, LIS selected its targeted 500 persons who would undergo the necessary training at the LIS Training Academy in Foya, Lofa County.
For us, at The INDEPENDENT newspaper, we are thrilled and elated that that the training process for the LIS recruits would shortly begin.
We also applaud the Government of Liberia, and its development partners for supporting the LIS training initiative.
Nevertheless, revelation that over 2,000 applicants for the LIS vetting process miserably failed the medical drugs test, in our candid view, serves a major and troubling concern to the entire Liberian nation.
The mere fact that more than 2,000 persons, most of whom are young people could not pass the required and crucial medical drugs test for recruitment by the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), suggests that something unfavorable is going wrong with the healthcare wellbeing of the citizens.
Although no details were given as regards the specific ‘medical bottlenecks’ that the over 2,000 LIS applicants face during the screening exercise, such mindboggling and discouraging report comes at a time, when the Liberian Nation itself is seriously grappling with illegal importation and proliferation of narcotic and other illicit drugs with far-reaching negative consequences on its predominately youthful population.
This is also why the need for the current government of Liberia, headed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakoi, to prioritize the revamping of Liberia’s healthcare delivery system cannot be overemphasized.
Similarly, the fight against illicit drugs which President Boakai, few months ago, described as “public health emergency” needs to be practically strengthened and vigorously enforced.
We say this based on the recent disclosure by the then Officer-In-Charge (OIC), of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Christopher Peters.
In his resignation letter, addressed to the Minister of State for Presidential for onward submission to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Mr. Peter disclosed the need for institutional reforms, maintaining of focus, as well as taking united approach towards drugs supply reduction, through prevention and rehabilitation efforts.
The LDEA ex-OIC also flagged other critical issues faced by the LDEA including understaffing, low budgetary support, inadequate salaries, lack of training and logistics.
According to Mr. Peters, as contained in his letter of resignation, “to effectively combatant the drugs trade, strategic reforms, additional staff recruitment, increased budgetary allocation, and support from key partners need to be put into place.
The letter also highlighted the necessity of calm, professional, and team-building leadership to elevate the LDEA to its full potential.
In short, President Boakai and his government must act, and act appropriately in providing the basic needs of LDEA, or we, as a government, and country risk defeat in the war against narcotic drugs.