Africa-Press – Liberia. Mr. Cummings praised the center’s efforts in providing shelter, rehabilitation, and skills training for at-risk youth, commonly known as “zogos.”
Monrovia – Alternative National Congress (ANC) political leader Alexander B. Cummings has thrown his weight behind the work of the Destiny Recovery Center, calling on the Liberian government to take stronger, more practical steps in tackling the country’s growing drug and disadvantaged youth crisis.
During a visit to the center in the Battery Factory Community on Monday, Cummings toured the facilities, interacted with residents, and listened to their struggles with addiction and homelessness.
“We have come to help, but the government has a greater role to play in solving the issue of drugs,” he said. “This can only be possible if the government decides to treat it like a national emergency in deeds rather than words.”
Cummings praised the center’s efforts in providing shelter, rehabilitation, and skills training for at-risk youth, commonly known as “zogos.” “What you are doing here is a true act of patriotism,” he remarked. “You are not just giving these young people a place to sleep; you are giving them hope, a future, and a second chance at life.”
The ANC leader’s visit is his second public engagement on the issue in less than a week. On September 17, he held a dialogue with at-risk youth in West Point, where he urged the government to move beyond pronouncements and implement sustainable rehabilitation programs.
A staff member speaking on behalf of the center’s vision bearer, Pastor Jerry Saway, welcomed Cummings’s show of solidarity: “Mr. Cummings’s visit is a great source of encouragement for us and our residents. It shows that our work is being recognized and that these young people are not forgotten.”
Liberia’s drug crisis continues to worsen despite government’s recent declaration of a national emergency. A 2022 U.N. report estimated that one in five Liberians under 35 is abusing drugs, including opioids, cocaine, and the dangerous synthetic mix known as “kush.”
As the problem deepens, centers like Destiny Recovery have become lifelines for many disadvantaged youth, providing rehabilitation and pathways to reintegration. Cummings pledged his continued support and urged other public figures and institutions to rally behind such initiatives.
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