By: Melvin Flomo
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Monrovia, Liberia — A diverse wave of Liberians, young and old stormed Capitol Hill in Monrovia today in a unified march against the alarming rise in drug abuse and trafficking across the country.
With placards raised and voices chanting for justice, the campaigners called on the government to take immediate and concrete action, describing the drug crisis as a “national emergency.” Their demands include stronger drug laws, enhanced rehabilitation programs, and reinforced border controls to block the inflow of narcotics.
One of the key demands directed at President Joseph Boakai is the creation of a Presidential Anti-Drug Task Force (PADTF). The proposed body would include civil society actors, religious institutions, the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), Liberia National Police (LNP), and the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), working in collaboration with the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA).
“Mr. President, like Ebola, it is time to include the AFL in this fight to save our nation,” read one statement from campaigners. The task force, they say, should be empowered to raise awareness, operate a national call center, track drug-related cases from report to prosecution, and support community-based drug taskforces.
Organizers of the protest say today’s action marks the beginning of a sustained movement aimed at rescuing Liberia’s youth and securing the country's future from the scourge of drugs.
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