By Lincoln G. Peters
Liberia is poised to witness the declaration of drugs as a national emergency by the Boakai government. This initiative underscores the administration’s unwavering commitment to address the pervasive issue that has long hindered the nation’s progress.
Addressing Unity Party (UP) auxiliaries in Paynesville recently, UP Chairman Rev. J. Luther Tarpeh emphasized the critical need for this declaration, shedding light on the devastating impact of narcotics on the nation’s youth and the urgent necessity for collective action.
“We are going to work on this drug pandemic that is here to swallow up our next generation. We are going to declare war (emergency) on drugs because when we are no longer able to provide leadership. We will depend on our young people for the transformation of our beloved country – Liberia. So, we will fight this enemy,” said Chairman Tarpeh.
He assured scores of Unity Party auxiliary groups about the Boakai-led government’s plan to tackle the issue of drugs that has been destroying thousands of youth across Liberia mentally and physically.
Beyond the announcement of the national emergency, Chairman Tarpeh unveiled Boakai’s visionary ARREST Agenda (Agriculture, Road, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation & Tourism).
The Boakai administration promises not only to combat the drug crisis but also to usher in an era of holistic national development.
The imminent declaration reflects a proactive stance, signaling the government’s commitment to building a resilient and prosperous Liberia.
Meanwhile, the Unity Party National Chairman also disclosed that the Boakai-led Government is inheriting a very broken system with empty coffers from the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)-led Government in the country.
“And so, for Liberians in and outside of the country, their expectations are high. But as a National Chairman, I want to let you know without any iota of doubts we are inheriting a very broken system and I want you to understand this,” said Chairman Tarpeh.
“When President Weah and the CDC people were going all round here telling people that they were paying WAEC … fees, from everything we have seen so far through our interactions with the government that is going out, out of the six years the CDC Government has ruled, only one year they have paid WAEC fees and the country is indebted to WAEC for five years,” Chairman Tarpeh claimed.
“I am mentioning this to you all because when President-elect Joseph Boakai takes office on Monday, Liberians will be expecting miracles from day one.”
He said while it is true that UP is not giving any excuse, the party is going to inform the Liberian people of the kind of government it is taking over from and the challenges that it has.
He said for WAEC not to suspend Liberia, the Unity Party-led government needs to find the money and pay WEAC for the five years that CDC’s leadership should have paid for.
Rev. Tarpeh revealed that from every indication, the country will suffer from a financial deficit for a period, but the Boakai-led government will strengthen Liberia and work towards the expectations of Liberians.
“Despite all these challenges, the Unity Party leadership will not disappoint those who believe that we can transform this country,” he said.
