Published: October 9, 2024
MONROVIA – Suspended Director General of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Col. Abraham Kromah, has expressed regret over his actions that led to his suspension, acknowledging that he has let down both himself and President Joseph Boakai. In June, President Boakai suspended Kromah along with his deputies, Hassan Fadiga and Gbawou Kowou, following a heated altercation among the trio.
Kromah’s appeal for a second chance comes in the wake of his suspension, along with his two deputies, following a public altercation that disrupted operations at the agency’s headquarters in Monrovia.
“I am ashamed of myself and to be honest with you, maybe I should have handled things differently. My experience and education should have allowed me to avoid the provocations,” Kromah said during an interview on the Spoon Talk radio program on Monday, October 7, 2024. He admitted that the incident, which resulted in a physical confrontation with his deputies, Hassan Fadiga and Gbawou Kowou, was a personal and professional failing.
In June 2024, the LDEA leadership descended into chaos after Kromah and his deputies engaged in a heated dispute, which ultimately turned physical. The incident attracted widespread public and media attention, prompting President Boakai to suspend Kromah, Fadiga, and Kowou pending an independent investigation. Christopher Peters was appointed Officer-in-Charge of the LDEA while the investigation is completed.
Kromah, who has been accused by his deputies of shielding drug lords and employing questionable practices at the agency, including training ex-combatants outside LDEA protocols, has denied the allegations. He described the claims as “unfounded and from the pit of the devil,” emphasizing that his suspension was not related to any criminal actions but rather internal discord.
“My suspension was not based on criminality but on innuendoes and gossip,” Kromah said, dismissing the accusations as baseless. He added that his main concern now is regaining the trust and confidence of President Boakai, under whom he was called to serve in the country’s fight against illicit drugs.
Reflecting on the altercation, Kromah stated that he tried to stay calm, but ultimately failed to prevent the situation from escalating. Video footage of the incident, which circulated widely on social media, shows the tense exchanges between Kromah and his deputies. “I tried to maintain my calm, but that’s it. It is now water under the bridge,” Kromah said.
Since his suspension, Kromah said he has been reflecting on the situation and the purpose that brought him back to Liberia to serve. He expressed his frustration at not being able to fulfill his duties, particularly in combating drug-related crimes and helping those in need of rehabilitation.
“It is heartbreaking to see that I can’t do what my passion is—helping Liberia, helping young children, helping families. People come to me every day expressing their disappointment in seeing me where I am now,” Kromah noted.
While acknowledging that he is not in a position to make decisions about his return to the LDEA, Kromah said he remains hopeful that President Boakai will give him another opportunity to serve. “I’m a humble young man waiting on God’s divinity to decide my fate through President Boakai,” he stated.
Kromah is seeking a chance to meet face-to-face with the president to personally express his regret and ask for a second chance. “If I have the opportunity to sit with the president, I will tell him that, Mr. President, in one’s life, you make decisions, and sometimes you fall short,” Kromah said, appealing for understanding and forgiveness.
He said President Boakai is familiar with his track record, having worked with him during his time as Vice President and as a member of the police force. Kromah believes that the president knows his capabilities and that he remains the right man for the job in support of the Unity Party’s ARREST Agenda.
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