A Call for Independent Investigation into the Major Passport Scandal at Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
October 4, 2020
Attention: His Excellency George M. Weah
President of the Republic of Liberia
Monrovia, Liberia
Mr. President:
I am a former Liberian diplomat, who served from 2010 to 2019 as Minister Counselor for Press and Public Affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia in the United States. Prior to my diplomatic posting, I served as Deputy Minister for Public Affairs, Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism during the first term of President Ellen Johnson Sirlreaf. A career journalist and an author, I have also served as head of the Press Union of Liberia, a leading civil society organization in the country.
This Open Letter is to call upon the Government of the Republic of Liberia to immediately set up an independent commission to investigate the major scandal that broke out recently at the Foreign Ministry regarding the sale of more than four thousand Liberian ECOWAS passports through alleged criminal means.
Because of the scandal surrounding the criminalization of the Liberian ECOWAS passports, the United States government recently imposed sanctions on former Liberian passport director Andrew Wonplo and his family. This is an indication that the passport scandal could taint the international image of Liberia and ECOWAS in general. The scandal also has the potential to create serious problems for Liberian and ECOWAS citizens traveling to other parts of the world.
In his reaction following the announcement of the U.S. sanctions, former passport director Wonplo implicated former Liberian Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar Findley and the Office of the President (your office) in the illegal sale of the Liberian ECOWAS passports, including diplomatic passports. The former passport director also alleged that former Foreign Minister Findley and other senior officials in your office were involved in the illegal sale of diplomatic passports and the posts of Honorary Consul of Liberia to non-Liberians, including a Nigerian, who is reported to be a drug dealer based in Mexico as Liberian Honorary Consul. A source, who is a former official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told me that there has been a complete breakdown in the system regarding the issuance of passports and how honorary consuls are appointed. The former official said that he strongly believes, based on experience that many Liberian passports have illegally ended up especially in the hands of Nigerians during the course of the scandal.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
In view of the foregoing, it is incumbent upon the Liberian government to take this passport scandal seriously and conduct itself in a credible manner to uncover the facts. To leave the scandal hanging could have untold negative consequences for Liberia at the international level.
This is why I seriously object to the Liberian government’s response to the passport scandal, as articulated by acting Foreign Minister Henry Fahnbulleh, that the government does not intend to conduct any investigation. It is unacceptable to dismiss these allegations without an investigation.
If Liberia is to be a part of international arrangements like the Liberian ECOWAS Passports, the government is obligated to ensure that Liberian institutions that represent the country function effectively to meet the required standards of security and credibility.
In this light, I call upon ECOWAS, as well as the United States and other international partners concerned, to prevail upon the Liberian government to commission an independent investigation, considering that the missing passports in question are ECOWAS passports issued by the Government of Liberia. It may be recalled that in 2007 Liberia adopted the ECOWAS Passport, which is a common format passport that ECOWAS member states have gradually been introducing since 2000. In 2009, Liberia adopted the Liberian Biometric ECOWAS Passport that is currently in use, thus bringing the country into compliance with international aviation regulations.
The scandal could also potentially affect the African Union (AU) passport, the continental travel document that would allow visa-free travel between AU member countries, which was scheduled to roll out before the end of 2020. While commending the AU for the launch of a continental passport to boost intra-African travel and business, it should be noted that the major passport scandal that has unfolded in Liberia has the potential to undermine international confidence in the integrity and security of a sub-regional or a continental travel document if not addressed promptly.
The illegal sale of the Liberian ECOWAS passports presents a threat to international security. At a time of growing drug, human, and sex trafficking, during which terrorists are also desperately seeking to travel abroad to unleash acts of terror, the Liberian ECOWAS passports that have been allegedly sold could well serve the interests of such criminal masterminds.
It should also be noted that this communication is in no way intended to impugn the integrity of those who have been implicated in the passport scandal by the former Liberian passport director. Former Foreign Minister Findley has expressed that he is willing to submit to any investigation to prove that the former passport director is a liar. Hence, the call for an independent probe is in the interest of transparency to ensure international confidence in the security of the Liberian ECOWAS passport. Failure to do so, Liberia risks being perceived as a country degenerating into a criminal state, as was the case under imprisoned former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who was convicted for war crimes.
Similar to what happened during the respective regimes of Mr. Taylor and military ruler Samuel Doe, the country is also experiencing growing politically-motivated violence, as Liberians prepare to vote in midterm senatorial elections in December. Your government has an obligation to ensure the safety and security of every Liberian, and to sustain the peace in the country. Let Liberia’s recent evil past serve as an example that Liberians will not accept the result of a fraudulent election, no matter how much violence is perpetrated to instill public fear.
Finally, the need for an independent investigation into the passport scandal cannot be overemphasized. Hope that you are mindful of the dire international consequences if a Liberian passport is found in the possession of a notorious drug dealer or a terrorist. Equally important, Liberians or ECOWAS citizens do not deserve to be pulled from the line and interrogated at airports around the world because they are bearing passports that are internationally stigmatized. This is a very serious problem, Mr. President, do something to address it before it is too late.
Meanwhile, please be informed that ECOWAS, the U.S. Department of State, and the African Union have been copied on this communication.
May I use this opportunity to also wish you a belated happy birthday, Mr. President. As you grow in age, Liberians expect that you would grow in wisdom to serve in the interest of the people and the country.
Sincerely Yours
Gabriel I.H. Williams
Email: gabrielwilliams028@gmail.com; Cellphone: 240-396-7246
