Africa-Press – Liberia. (Left) Eminent Wettee & Co-Chairman Wleh (right) –
Listening as Director Ngafua makes a point
A delegation of the All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD) has praised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for what it described as a transparent, professional, and efficient ordinary passport issuance process for Liberians holding dual citizenship, following a fact-finding visit to the Ministry’s Passport Division in January 2026.
The delegation, led by Emmanuel S. Wettee, Eminent Chairman of ALCOD, and Kingston Wleh, Co-Chairman, met with Director Paul K. Ngafua, the Director of Passports and technical staff to gain firsthand insight into how Liberians with dual nationality can obtain their ordinary Liberian passports under existing laws (Dual Citizenship) and administrative procedures.
According to ALCOD officials, the visit was prompted by persistent public misconceptions—particularly within the diaspora—that Liberians with dual citizenship encounter systemic obstacles when applying for their Ordinary Liberian passports. The delegation said the process they observed directly contradicts those misperceptions.
“We witnessed the process in real time, and we were genuinely impressed,” Chairman Wettee said following the visit. “Once an applicant presents the rightful documents—such as a Liberian birth certificate, a parent’s Liberian nationality documents, or other required records—the process proceeds smoothly and professionally, irrespective of dual citizenship status.”
ALCOD reported that applicants with dual nationality are processed in line with Liberia’s amended Aliens and Nationality Law and prevailing administrative guidelines, with no evidence of discrimination or undue delay.
L-R: Eminent Wettee, Director Ngafua, and Co-Chairman Wleh
The delegation commended the Passport Division for its orderly workflow, clarity of requirements, and customer-focused service delivery, describing the reforms as part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to modernize consular and immigration services.
Plans for Diaspora Mobile Passport Services
During discussions with Foreign Ministry officials, ALCOD was informed of plans to expand passport access beyond Monrovia, including the establishment of mobile passport enrollment stations in the diaspora. The initiative is intended to serve Liberians abroad—both dual citizens and non-dual citizens—who often face logistical and financial challenges traveling to embassies or consulates.
ALCOD welcomed the proposal, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening state-diaspora engagement and easing access to essential documentation.
“Mobile passport services will make a meaningful difference for Liberians living abroad,” Co-Chairman Wleh noted. “It reflects a growing recognition of the diaspora’s importance to national development and identity.”
Domestically, the delegation was also briefed on the decentralization of passport services, with stations already operating in selected counties, including Bong County, as part of efforts to reduce congestion in Monrovia and improve nationwide access.
Strengthening Trust and Dialogue
ALCOD said the visit represents an important confidence-building step between diaspora advocacy groups and the Government of Liberia, particularly as national conversations around dual citizenship, belonging, and inclusion continue to evolve.
The organization pledged to share its findings with Liberian communities abroad and to maintain constructive engagement with government institutions on citizenship-related issues.
“What we saw reassures us that the system is working,” Wettee said. “Our responsibility now is to ensure that accurate information reaches Liberians everywhere.” Encourage Liberians with Dual Citizenship to get their Ordinary Liberian Passport as stated by Rev. Charles Levi Martin in his video to Liberians in the Diaspora. One of the benefits of the dual citizenship law—Once A Liberian Always A Liberian—is that a Liberian with dual citizenship can obtain their Ordinary Liberian Passport. Other benefits include voting in Liberia, getting a Liberian National ID Card, purchasing a land in Liberia, allowing a Liberian mother to pass her Liberian citizenship over to her child at birth, and more.
After the meeting with Passport Director Ngafuan, ALCOD interviewed 20 Liberians with dual citizenship, who had gone to Liberia for the Diaspora Annual Return 2025, and they were pleased with the process. One suggested that the requirements for Liberians with dual citizenship to get their Ordinary Liberian Passport should be published. This person told ALCOD that a staff member at the Passport Bureau professionally educated them on how and where to get the needed documents, including a birth certificate.
ALCOD extends thanks and appreciation to Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow-Nyanti for her sound and unmatched leadership at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that have resulted in Liberians with Dual Citizenship obtaining their Ordinary Liberian Passport.
About ALCOD: It is inclusive of the European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA), Conference of Liberian Organizations in the Southwestern United States (COLOSUS), Liberians Advocacy for Change (LAFC), Federation of Liberian Communities in Australia (FOLICA), and United Liberian Associations of Ghana (ULAG).
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