Gbarnga, Bong County – August 18, 2025 — Bong County District #6 Representative, Hon. Moima Briggs Mensah, has issued a strong call for the immediate removal of the Director-General of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), arguing that the agency’s current leadership is failing to confront the country’s deepening drug crisis.
Speaking in Gbarnga on Monday, Representative Mensah criticized what she described as “major lapses” in the management of the agency, stressing that the fight against illicit drugs demands firm leadership, accountability, and vision. She warned that without decisive changes at the top, Liberia risks losing an entire generation of young people to addiction and related crimes.
“The drug crisis is eating away at the very future of this country,” Mensah declared. “We cannot afford weak leadership in such a critical sector. If the government is serious about protecting our youth and safeguarding our communities, then it must ensure the LDEA is headed by competent individuals who can deliver results.”
The lawmaker argued that despite increased public concern and government rhetoric about tackling the spread of narcotics, little progress has been made in reducing availability and consumption, particularly in vulnerable communities. She said the leadership vacuum at the agency is undermining both enforcement efforts and public trust.
According to Mensah, the rise in drug abuse — especially among young people — has already had far-reaching consequences, from declining school attendance to increased petty crime and community instability. She added that unless stronger institutional leadership is installed, the problem will continue to spiral out of control.
Her comments come at a time of heightened national debate over the effectiveness of Liberia’s anti-drug institutions. Civil society groups and community leaders have also raised concerns in recent months about the capacity of the LDEA to combat trafficking networks and address local consumption.
Representative Mensah emphasized that addressing the crisis requires more than rhetoric. She urged the government to empower enforcement agencies with the necessary resources, training, and legal backing but insisted that such efforts would be wasted without competent leadership at the helm.
“Our young people are the backbone of this nation,” she said. “Allowing them to be consumed by drugs is a betrayal of Liberia’s future. The government must act now by making leadership changes at the LDEA and giving the fight against drugs the urgency it deserves.”
Observers say Mensah’s remarks could increase pressure on the administration to review its drug enforcement strategies and leadership appointments. While government officials have not yet responded to her statement, analysts note that the call adds momentum to a broader push for reforms within Liberia’s security and law enforcement agencies.
As the debate intensifies, the question remains whether the government will take swift action to overhaul the leadership of the LDEA — or risk further erosion of public confidence in the nation’s ability to tackle one of its most pressing social challenges.
