Monrovia, February 18, 2026 — Deputy Commissioner of Police Cecelia G. Clarke has stepped down as Police Spokesperson and Head of the Press and Public Affairs Division of the Liberia National Police (LNP), turning a routine reassignment into a public spotlight on internal discrimination, poor collaboration, and structural dysfunction within the force.
Her resignation takes effect immediately and comes barely a day after the LNP formally notified her that her “tour of duty” as head of the Press and Public Affairs Division had ended and that she was being reassigned to the Protocol Division.
The reassignment communication, dated February 17 and signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police W. Swen, Head of Human Resource Management, thanked Clarke for her service and congratulated her on what was framed as a new appointment. She was instructed to turn over all operational materials and report to her new immediate supervisor for briefing and resumption of duty.
But behind the polite language of institutional courtesy, Clarke says, lay deeper unresolved problems.
In a strongly worded resignation statement issued Wednesday, she made it clear that her departure was not simply about a change of assignment. She pointed to persistent workplace discrimination, operational limitations, lack of robust institutional backing, structural obstacles that undermined the efficiency of her office, and continuing problems with team collaboration as key reasons for walking away from the post.
“Recent developments have made it clear that resigning from my position is in the best interest of both myself and the institution,” Clarke stated, explaining that her decision came after nearly two years of what she described as professional and administrative difficulties.
Clarke is among the few women ever to hold the high-profile role of Police Spokesperson at the LNP. In that capacity, she became the public face of the institution, routinely addressing national security issues, public safety concerns, and updates on police operations. Throughout her tenure, she pushed for stronger public communication and greater transparency within the force, seeking to bridge the gap between the police and the public.
While the LNP administration has presented her reassignment as a routine internal move, Clarke’s abrupt resignation signals that all is not well inside the command structure. Her references to discrimination, weak support systems, and structural barriers raise broader questions about internal culture, accountability, and gender inclusion at senior levels of the police hierarchy.
Despite the difficult circumstances surrounding her exit, Clarke expressed gratitude to colleagues and partners who supported her work over the years and pledged to ensure that the transition from her office is smooth and professional.
Her departure leaves the LNP not just searching for a new spokesperson, but also confronting the uncomfortable issues she has publicly placed on the table: whether the institution is prepared to address internal discrimination, build genuine teamwork, and create an environment where senior female officers can serve without being sidelined or silenced.
