Monrovia, Liberia – August 28, 2025:
Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh has called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. to urgently address what he describes as a growing leadership crisis at the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), warning that the administration’s handling of the matter is undermining the fight against illicit drugs and spreading hopelessness among Liberians.
In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, Senator Konneh said the President’s repeated dismissals of LDEA officials within just 18 months in office highlight deeper issues of political interference and cartel infiltration. He cautioned that the instability at the agency risks derailing the government’s flagship pledge to eradicate “kush” and other harmful substances destroying young lives.
“The ongoing leadership crisis within the LDEA is once again distracting the nation from the urgent battle against illicit drugs. The LDEA saga is making President Joseph Boakai’s administration look increasingly ineffective in fighting drugs, and hopelessness is spreading among citizens,” Konneh said.
He pointed to several controversial incidents, including the suspension of LDEA officers who exposed drug trafficking at Roberts International Airport and the dismissal of an LDEA deputy who accused “powerful government officials” of involvement in the drug trade. According to him, these actions send the wrong signal and embolden drug cartels.
While acknowledging the President’s decisiveness in making swift changes, Senator Konneh insisted that Liberia needs stability, professionalism, and a depoliticized vetting process for LDEA leadership. “This is a Liberian problem,” he stressed, urging the President to appoint leaders based on competence and patriotism, not factional politics.
Beyond leadership, the Senator pressed the Boakai administration to unveil a comprehensive anti-drug strategy that balances enforcement with rehabilitation. He recommended investments in health infrastructure, professional treatment centers, stricter border controls, technology-driven enforcement, and stronger collaboration with both local and international partners.
“I equate the drug crisis to the Ebola epidemic we faced a decade ago… We can do it again, drawing on the qualities we exhibited in those two instances: unity and resolve,” Konneh noted.
On the role of the Legislature, the Senator dismissed claims of complacency, emphasizing that lawmakers are working to strengthen Liberia’s drug laws and ensure oversight. He said the Senate has repeatedly sought progress updates from the Executive but received little response.
“Ultimately, it is the Commander-in-Chief who must take the lead by taking charge of the LDEA. The time to act is now. We need a clear plan and a solid team to implement it,” Konneh concluded.
