By Sara Camara
MONROVIA, Liberia – A top official within Liberia’s Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has sparked controversy by alleging the involvement of senior government officials in widespread drug trafficking and distribution across the country. Gwee Forkpa, the Deputy Director General for Administration, made the sensational claims without providing any specific names or evidence, simultaneously lambasting the agency’s current system for combating illicit drugs as “bad.”
Speaking recently at the Ministry of Information press briefing, Deputy Director Forkpa asserted that “illicit drug is a lucrative business,” and as such, “everybody wants to get money and for that, you will find somebody somewhere who is involved.” While he did not name any particular public official, his sweeping allegations pointed directly to “some members of the three branches of Liberian government” as being complicit in the illicit trade.
However, Forkpa’s failure to substantiate his claims with concrete proof or to name individuals has drawn sharp criticism. Many observers, including a number of concerned citizens, view his pronouncements as hypocritical and a disservice to the nation, especially given his high-ranking position within the very agency tasked with fighting drug crime.
“Why Forkpa, given his role and position in government, cannot report and expose these high-level government officials is viewed as hypocrisy and disservice to the country,” remarked one citizen, reflecting a common sentiment. Others voiced concerns that “making sweeping and unsubstantiated allegations has the propensity to taint the image of the administration” without offering any actionable intelligence.
Liberia continues to grapple with a severe drug problem, which has profoundly affected the lives of many young people across the nation. Forkpa’s allegations, while highlighting the public’s perception of corruption within the system, have intensified calls for more stringent action and credible evidence from those in authority, rather than broad accusations that lack specific details or pathways to investigation.
