Grand Gedeh County Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely has declared that Liberia has already lost its battle against illicit drugs. According to the Senator, the situation has worsened since President Joseph Boakai’s “Rescue” government declared a war on drug abuse.
Nimely, a former rebel leader turned senator, argued that despite the government’s ambitious declaration, drug-related issues in Liberia have continued to escalate. “You cannot make pronouncements that you are unable to fulfill,” Senator Nimely criticized the government’s inability to follow through on its commitment to tackle drug abuse.
In January, during his State of the Nation Address, President Boakai announced that illicit drugs posed a public health emergency. This declaration was accompanied by a public drug test involving the president and several government officials, as well as the formation of a presidential committee to combat drug abuse. However, since the committee’s establishment, little progress has been made.
Senator Nimely also pointed out that the leadership instability at the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency is a strong indication that the country is losing its fight against drug importers.
