Africa-Press – Liberia. As President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. takes a move dismissing the entire management team of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), a leading Liberian public health expert has called for a bolder action, the declaration of a State of Emergency on drugs and the immediate establishment of a National Anti-Drugs Incident Management System (IMS).
Samuel B.N. Babajuah, a seasoned health professional and Alumni Ambassador to Liberia from Southern Medical University-China, made the appeal in a public letter lauding the President’s recent move as “bold and intentional” and urging a comprehensive national response to what he describes as a “public health disaster and national security threat rolled into one.”
“The drug epidemic in Liberia has reached emergency levels. It is no longer just a law enforcement issue, it is a full-blown crisis threatening our youth, our communities, and the very survival of the nation,” Babajuah stressed.
Citing Article 86 of the 1986 Constitution, which allows the President to declare a state of emergency in times of grave threat to national well-being, Babajuah says the time has come to elevate the fight against drugs to the highest level of national response.
He referenced Liberia’s past use of an Incident Management System (IMS) during the Ebola and COVID-19 crises, which successfully unified national and international efforts across sectors and communities.
He believes a similar structure, adapted for drug control, could help coordinate prevention, treatment, law enforcement, and rehabilitation strategies.
“We beat back Ebola and COVID-19 not because they were easy, but because we responded with unity, structure, and urgency,” he said.
This drug crisis is no less deadly and deserves the same seriousness.”
“As such, Babajuah has proposed the setting up a National Anti-Drugs IMS, co-chaired by key ministries and security sectors, engaging churches, mosques and community leaders to drive prevention and recovery, partnering with international donors and the diaspora for technical, financial, and rehabilitative support, establishing and expanding drug treatment centers across the country and rolling out reintegration programs for affected youth
In his call to action, Babajuah pointed out that this moment requires visionary and coordinated leadership and expressed strong confidence in President Boakai’s willingness to act.
“Your Excellency, this moment calls for the same courage you showed at 2am. You have already proven your resolve. Now is the time to centralise the fight and give our nation the tools to win.”
He also sent a hopeful message to Liberia’s young people, saying: “Your lives are precious, your dreams are valid, and your future is worth fighting for. Do not let drugs silence your potential. This nation sees you and is fighting for you.”
The appeal has already sparked attention on social media, with many praising the idea of a centralized anti-drug command centre.
Meanwhile, civil society organizations and some legislators are reportedly in early discussions on how to support a coordinated national drug response. As the President weighs his next move, Liberians are watching closely, with hope that the country may finally turn the tide on an epidemic that has long eroded the foundation of its future.
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