By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia; August 29, 2025 – The newest dismissal of key officers on the Liberia Drug Enforcement Company (LDEA), together with Deputy Director Common for Administration, Gwee Okay. Porkpah, has ignited a firestorm of public debate and political scrutiny.
On the heart of the controversy, based on studies, Mr. Porkpah’s declare that senior authorities officers are concerned within the nation’s drug commerce, an announcement he made shortly earlier than his sudden elimination by President Joseph N. Boakai.
The Government Mansion introduced Thursday, August 28, that the President has dismissed three high officers of the LDEA, together with Director Common Anthony Okay. Souh, Deputy for Administration Gwee Okay. Porkpah, and Deputy for Operations Sebastian Farr, citing “administrative causes.” An interim administration staff has since been appointed to supervise the Company’s affairs, drawn from each the Liberia Nationwide Police and the Nationwide Safety Company.
President Boakai said that the choice was a part of a broader effort to restructure and strengthen Liberia’s anti-drug establishments, stressing the federal government’s dedication to eradicating illicit medication and substance abuse throughout the nation.
“This motion is aimed toward strengthening our collective resolve and actions in reaching a rustic freed from illicit medication and substances,” the President declared. “A job that the Authorities is dedicated to sustaining in order to impact a reversal of the present unacceptable scenario.”
Nevertheless, the timing of Porkpah’s dismissal has raised questions on whether or not the transfer was motivated solely by administrative considerations or whether or not it was an try and silence a possible whistleblower.
Within the days main as much as his dismissal, Mr. Porkpah made waves by alleging that “some authorities officers are reportedly concerned within the drug commerce.” His feedback haven’t gone unnoticed. Upon the Senate’s return, Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon publicly said that Porkpah can be referred to as to testify and identify these people or officers he claimed are concerned.
This has solely fueled hypothesis that the President’s choice might have had political undertones, with some suggesting that Porkpah was eliminated to stop him from exposing high-level complicity in Liberia’s rising drug disaster.
“The general public deserves to know the reality,” says a commenter. “If he [Porkpah] has credible proof, we are going to hear it. Nobody is above the regulation.”
Whereas Porkpah has but to supply detailed proof to help his claims, the rising stress from the general public and lawmakers means that his statements is not going to be simply dismissed.
To make sure continuity and reform throughout the LDEA, the President appointed the next officers to an interim management staff:
DCP Fitzgerald T. M. Biago (Liberia Nationwide Police), Officer-in-Cost, Mr. Ernest T. Tarpeh (Nationwide Safety Company), Deputy for Administration/Investigation, and ACP Patrick B. Kormazu (Liberia Nationwide Police), Deputy for Operations.
The staff will report on to the Minister of Justice, who has been tasked with conducting a complete 90-day evaluation of the LDEA’s construction, operations, and efficiency.
“The brand new management should reveal professionalism, diligence, and integrity,” the President mentioned, including that the Authorities will pursue a strong and clear response to Liberia’s drug disaster.
Within the streets of Monrovia and throughout social media, Liberians are asking a easy however critical query: Was Gwee Porkpah dismissed for administrative failures, or as a result of he spoke out in opposition to corruption on the highest ranges?
Opinions are sharply divided. Whereas some defend the President’s authority to nominate and take away company heads, others consider the timing of the dismissal is a smack of political suppression, particularly given Porkpah’s current accusations.
“This doesn’t look good for the federal government,” says Mary Flomo, recognized as a civil society advocate. “If somebody is courageous sufficient to reveal wrongdoing, they need to be protected, not fired.”
Transparency advocates are actually calling for Porkpah to be granted whistleblower protections and to testify publicly earlier than the Senate. Some additionally demand that the Justice Ministry’s evaluation ought to embrace a full investigation into his allegation. Enhancing by Jonathan Browne
