MONROVIA: A local civil society group, Epic Anti-Drug Africa, has called on the Government of Liberia (GoL) to support efforts by the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) to tackle the proliferation of illicit drugs in the country.
Epic Anti-Drug Africa Executive Director, Ambassador Michaela Johnson, said the proliferation of illicit drugs in the country poses a dangerous signal to the future of the country.
Speaking in an interview with journalists over the weekend at the launched of an awareness campaign held in sinker Monrovia he noted that, government needs to urgently give full support; both financial
and logistical, to the LDEA to enhance its fight against drugs.
“Let me warm you that there are dangerous signs ahead of you and you have to choose. The increase prevalence of illicit drugs has the propensity of destroying our country, and that’s why declaring illicit drugs as a States of Emergency in Liberia is the first good step.
But top of this, the government needs to urgently give full support, both financial and logistical to the Liberia Drug Enforcement if we are to fight drugs with sincerity,” He said.
He said the lack of equipment, low manpower and the porous borders are key factors hindering the fight against illicit drugs in the country.
He calls for urgent actions to empower the LDEA tackle the smuggling of narcotic drugs in the country.
He however calls on the Liberian leader to appoint new head of the LDEA.
It can be recalled President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. suspended the Director General, Mr. Abraham S. Kromah, and Deputy Director General for Administration, Mr. Gbawou Kowou, and the Deputy Director General for Operations, Mr. Hassan Fadiga of the Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA).
In a statement signed at the time by Anthony V. Kesselly, deputy minister of state for public affairs, their suspension takes immediate effect and without pay, pending investigation.
