Published: November 23, 2024
Monrovia – Anthony K. Souh, the Director General-designate of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA), has accused the former Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration of flooding the agency with over 1,500 unauthorized personnel, referred to as “Action Agents,” who were issued LDEA identification and uniforms without being formally employed.
Appearing before the Senate Committee on Security, Intelligence, and Veteran Affairs for his confirmation hearing on Thursday, November 21, 2024, Souh alleged that these individuals were brought into the LDEA through political patronage and other informal means.
According to Souh, the LDEA officially has 631 personnel on the government payroll, but the additional 1,500 “Action Agents” operate under the agency’s name, bearing official identification cards and uniforms, despite having no employment records with the national government.
“1,500 are not on the payroll and are out there, and we don’t have records of them because they are not employed,” Souh stated. He pledged to implement a rigorous screening and vetting process to give these individuals an opportunity to validate their employment status or be removed from the system entirely.
“They [the past regime] just brought and put them there. That’s why I’m giving them a fair chance to apply, go through the vetting process, attend the police academy, qualify, and meet international standards before being officially employed,” Souh emphasized.
He also highlighted the need for professional standards to prevent potential agitation or protests from disgruntled agents who may accuse his administration of politically motivated dismissals.
“I believe in quality, not quantity. I don’t want any outcry about a Bassa man dismissing a Kissi man because I’m Bassa, or a Mandingo man dismissing a Gio man. Those are the things I want to avoid,” Souh explained.
The nominee pledged to reform the LDEA and ensure that its operations align with professional ethics and the legal framework that established the agency, free from political interference.
Souh also expressed his vision to elevate the LDEA to one of the most effective anti-drug enforcement agencies in Africa. He, however, stressed that achieving this goal would require adequate budgetary support from the legislature, as well as collaboration with civil society organizations and citizens.
“We have the capacity to do our best, but the only thing you need to do is give us some money, honorable senators,” he urged.
If confirmed, Souh promised to lead an LDEA focused on combating illicit drugs across Liberia with integrity and professionalism. His remarks come at a critical time when the country is grappling with rising drug-related challenges and demands for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
Discussion about this post