By Bill W. Cooper
Information coming in says former Defense Minister, Prince C. Johnson, is poised to be nominated as the New National Security Agency (NSA) Director, a week after his resignation.
The news comes after weeks of protestation from the wives of members of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) over his appointment as Defense Minister.
According to the report, Johnson’s name is the favorite for the position, among five candidates submitted so far to President Joseph Boakai for subsequent appointment.
It can be recalled that Maj. Gen. Johnson resigned from his post as Defense Minister following intense pressure from the AFL wives who raised concerns over his appointment.
Johnson, having served the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) as Chief-of-Staff, was retired by President Joseph Boakai this year, following his 18 years of service in army.
But Ret. Gen. Johnson’s 18 years of service in the Army later came under serious criticism from wives of active-duty soldiers of the AFL, accusing him of corruption and ill-treatment of their husbands.
Following Johnson’s appointment as Defense Minister by President Boakai and subsequent confirmation by the Senate, the AFL Wives then took to the streets in protestation, demanding the immediate dismissal or resignation of Johnson.
The ladies, during their strike action, argued that Johnson lacked the necessary moral and ethical behavior to serve the army as Defense Minister, judging from his past record as Chief-of-Staff, and thereby questioned his ability to effectively protect the interests of soldiers.
As a result of the ladies’ protest, which lasted for a week, triggering the cancellation of the famous Armed Forces Day celebration, Gen. Johnson then announced his resignation, citing the civil and political disobediences occasioned by the women’s protests.
In his resignation letter to President Boakai, Maj. Gen. Johnson said he took the decision to preserve the peace and security of the country.
The NSA is a merger of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which was responsible for covert and overt security investigations, and the Executive Action Bureau (EAB), which was responsible for carrying out clandestine activities for the Executives.
In the early 1970s, during the administration of former President Tubman, similar function to that of the EAB was carried out by the National Intelligence Service (NISS), but on the highest national level.
Conversely, the NISS was dissolved following the death of President Tubman and the subsequent taking over of power by President Williams R. Tolbert, Jr., leaving the EAB at the time as the only clandestine agency.
On May 20, 1974, an act repealing sub-chapter D of Chapter 1, Part 1 and sub-chapter B of Chapter 22, Part II of the Executive Law in Relation to the EAB and the NBI, and creating the NSA, was approved.
The NSA was left as the only agency solely responsible for gathering national security intelligence, but having to conduct special investigations whenever the need arises.
According to our source close to the presidency, President Boakai is confident that retired Gen. Johnson will get the job done, based on his professional and integral security personnel.
The NSA is one of the three entities undergoing audit by the General Auditing Commission (GAC), which the former Defense Minister has since supported.
Our source also disclosed that the President is in full support of Johnson’s appointment as NSA boss and believes that he is the right man for the job.
Our source added that the President at some point also cited Johnson’s previous experience in security matters and his strong leadership qualities as reasons behind his decision.
As the country awaits the official announcement of the NSA new Boss, concerns and questions are now lingering about the future of national security in Liberia.
Only time will tell as to whether Johnson will be announced to lead the NSA, and if so, how he will navigate the challenges and win the trust and confidence of the public.
