-Declare it a national emergency
By Jerromie S. Walters
In a bid to combat the proliferation of drugs in Liberia and its demeaning consequences on the youth, Liberia’s President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has declared drug (substance abuse) as a national emergency.
The President made the declaration on Monday, January 29, 2024, when he delivered his first State of the Nation address.
As a testament to his commitment to curb or perpetually end the spread of the deadly substance, the President has created a special steering committee, consisting of the Ministries of Health, Justice, Youth and Sports, Gender and Social Protection, Finance, and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA). In the coming days, the committee begin strategizing means to curb the national crisis.
Mr. Boakai has also disclosed that he and Vice President Jeremiah P. Koung will lead the process of drug testing, and he admonished all other officials to do the same.
Meanwhile, contrary to disclosure earlier made by former President George Weah, Mr. Boakai says he met 20.5 million in the government consolidated account and not US $40 million as announced by the former president.
“The report of US $40 million as the GoL’s consolidated account balance as at January 19, 2024, is not supported by the fact. The balance reported by the CBL as of the same date was US$20.5 million, highly encumbered, NOT US$40 million.
With this, he articulates: “To this end, we re-emphasize our earlier commitment to audit and ensure that regular audits will be a culture across all branches of government, not only the Executive.”
Commenting on road connectivity, the President announced plans for the construction of a four-lane corridor from the Gabriel Turker Bridge to the Freeport of Monrovia, with support from the Japanese government. Additionally, Mr. Boakai says his government, with support from its partners will also continue the road expansion process from the Freeport of Monrovia.
The Liberian Leader rallied Liberians to join his government in achieving its developmental agenda, as he believes the state is in distress. “The state of our nation is in distress,” Mr. Boakai tells Liberians.