By Lincoln G. Peters
Former Liberian Vice President Amb. Joseph Nyuma Boakai has declared the proliferation of drugs across the country a national security emergency threat that needs immediate arrest.
Mr. Boakai, who is making his second attempt for the presidency this October, has vowed to wage war against drug trafficking when he wins the nation’s highest office.
“I view it as a threat to our national security and must be elevated to a National Emergency. The statistics cannot be starker,” the 78-year-old said during a press conference held on International Day Against Drugs Abuse Monday, 26 June 2023.
Boakai said the increasing exposure of Liberians, particularly the youth to drug abuse and addiction through ready access to banned substances, if not immediately arrested, will have enormous health, social, economic, and security implications on the country.
“It is estimated that 2 in 10 youth in Liberia are users of narcotic substances. Some estimates have it that about 13% of the population is affected by drug addiction,” said Amb. Boakai.
He noted that the correlation between substance abuse and crimes is equally worrying, with the police reporting an increase in drug-related crimes.
He warned that Liberia is fast gaining notoriety as a transshipment country for illicit narcotics, with the country shamefully appearing now as a “narco-state.”
According to him, the country’s weak law enforcement capacity, porous borders, and proximity to major drug transit routes help to contribute to trafficking to and through Liberia.
The Unity Party (UP) standard bearer recalled the recent seizure of 100 million United States Dollars worth of drugs, and the trial saga that ensued.
He also recalled the mysterious and unexplained departure from the country of all those who stood trial and “acquitted.” of the drug-related charges.
Boakai suggested that these are indications of the extent to which the country has been rapidly exposed in the last few years to the narco trade.
He said they also point to the vulnerability of the Liberian society to the impact of such large-scale assaults by international criminal enterprises.
“Significantly, it reveals the failure of national leadership, a weak and criminal justice system, and crucially raises suspicion about the probable complicity of some higher-ups in this affair,’’ he noted.
Boakai said it is now obvious that the Weah Administration is incapable, unwilling, complicit, and indifferent to this crisis.
“They don’t see it as most Liberians see it – A NATIONAL EMERGENCY. This is why a change in national leadership is and should be now,” he told Liberians.
The opposition leader cautioned Liberians to see their votes as an opportunity to reverse a dangerous trend by saving their children and securing their future.
According to Boakai, abusers of drugs are prone to mental health illnesses and high suicidal tendencies, and may also die prematurely due to drug overdose.
He also noted that dependency on drugs often leads to crimes, which put both the users and society in peril because these young people are stigmatized and face harsh societal isolation.
Boakai promised to holistically declare war on drug trafficking and use when elected President of Liberia in the upcoming October 10 presidential and legislative pools.
“I promise to declare war on drug trafficking and use when elected, which is why the decision you make on October 10 would be one of the most consequential in your lifetime,” said Amb. Boakai.
He implored Liberians to remain vigilant and know that help is on the way to salvage their young people and society from “kush” and the throes of this epidemic.
Joseph Nyumah Boakai, lest you forget, that Narco State was berth by the curruption and misrule of the Unity Party 12 years in power – when the educational system was declared MESSY by none other than your Boss, EJS. It was declared MESSY but the mess was never fixed. The health system, despite billions pouring in under Unity Party… the health system was no HELP when we had public health emergencies, we still needed donor support for the basic necessities. You should be telling us what policies you had to tackle drug trafficking when you were in power that was discontinued by the CDC. That’s what we need to hear, not unbriddled criticism, when Unity Party knows very well it did not pass on any legacy policy to the CDC Gov’t to continue. Chill Papay, you are pointing a finger, but 4 seems to be pointed right back at you (and your UP desperados)
Joseph Nyumah Boakai, lest you forget Drug Abuse and Mental Health problem in Liberia has been the case for nearly 10-15 years. What policy on DRUG ADDICTION and MENTAL HEALTH did the Unity Party bequeathed to CDC, that was not continued? Last I can remember, you left no distinctive Mental Health program for the CDC gov’t. Did you (UP) expand treatment facilities across the 15 counties, when you had the opportunity? How many persons you rehabilitated when you had the opportunity? Give us Facts and Figures! Tell us what Mental Health program(s) you had running across the 15 counties (that was very good) but was Discontinued by the CDC gov’t? It’s easy to lay back and criticize, but UP had the opportunity to set a fine example, but as you sum it up, you SQUANDERED IT. Even now, what is your proposal for the Drug Abuse menace and Mental HEALTH? Does your signature AREST agenda detail anything about Drug Abuse and Mental Health? During your 12 years, did you introduce Drug Awareness programs in our schools across the country that to educate the youths about the dangers of drug abuse? Drug Abuse and Mental Health HOTLINE for at-risk youths and young adults? At this stage, simple criticism is not enough, tell us [detail] plans to solve the problem. If (Unity Party) had left a [drug] program in place that the CDC did not continue, that would be understandable, but you left nothing. So let other people do the criticism, not you. To me this is simple common sense