Liberia is poised to witness the declaration of drugs as a national emergency by the incoming Boakai government. This initiative underscores the administration’s unwavering commitment to addressing the pervasive issue that has long hindered the nation’s progress.
As anticipation builds, Unity Party Chairman, Rev. J. Luther Tarpeh, took center stage, delivered a compelling address to Unity Party auxiliaries in Paynesville on Thursday, January 18, 2024.
Chairman Tarpeh emphasized the critical need for this declaration, shedding light on the devastating impact of narcotics on the nation’s youth and the urgent necessity for collective action.
“We are going to work on this drug pandemic that is here to swallow up our next generation. We are going to declare war (emergency) on drugs because when we are no longer able to provide leadership, we will depend on our young people for the transformation of our beloved country – Liberia. So, we will fight this enemy,” Chairman Tarpeh assured scores of Unity Party’s auxiliary groups about the Boakai-led Government’s plan in tackling the issue of drugs, that has been destroying thousands of youths across Liberia mentally and physically.
Beyond the announcement of the national emergency, Chairman Tarpeh unveiled Boakai’s visionary “ARREST” Agenda (Agriculture, Road, Rule of Law, Education, and Sanitation and Tourism), a comprehensive strategy set up by the Boakai-led leadership to redefine Liberia’s path to development, addressing key sectors that are crucial for sustained growth.
Meanwhile, the Unity Party National Chairman also disclosed that the Boakai-led Government is inheriting a very broken system, with empty coffers from the CDC-led Government in the country.
“And so, for Liberians in and outside of the country, their expectations are high, but as a National Chairman, I want to let you know without any iota of doubt that we are inheriting a very broken system and I want you to understand this. When President Weah and the CDC people were going all around here telling people that they were paying WAEC school fees, from everything we have seen so far through our interactions with the government that is going out, out of the six years the CDC Government has ruled; only one year they have paid WAEC fees, and the country is indebted to WAEC for five years. I am mentioning this to you all because when President-elect Joseph Boakai takes office on Monday, Liberians will be expecting miracles from day one.
While it is true that we are not giving any excuses, we are going to inform the Liberian people the kind of government we are inheriting and the challenges that we have,” Chairman Tarpeh asserted.
He said in order for WAEC not to suspend Liberia, the Unity Party-led Government needs to find the money and pay WEAC for the five years that CDC’s leadership should have paid for.
Rev. Tarpeh revealed that from every indication, the country will suffer from a financial deficit for a period, but the Boakai-led Government will strengthen Liberia and work towards the expectations of Liberians.
“Despite all these challenges, the Unity Party leadership will not disappoint those who believe that we can transform this country. The national government of Amb Boakai will not be able to provide jobs for everybody, but we are going to create conducive environments where Liberians will be able to work and feed their families,” the UP National Chairman promised UP supporters.
The Unity Party National Chairman told UP supporters that the Boakai-led Government will be a government of inclusivity, and not few individuals enjoying the country like in the outgoing government.
“Liberia’s problem is not educated people; Liberia’s problem is not people who can talk; Liberia’s problem is educated people who have no character and who have no love for this country. We have to change that trajectory. We have to know that when you are employed or when you are called upon to render services to your country, it is not only you and your family’s pot that should boil, but other people’s pot should boil too; I believe, beginning with President Boakai, you are going to see a new Liberia, but these things are not going to come easily. We need your prayers and cooperation because we need to lift the image of our country,” Rev Tarpeh affirmed.
He concluded that Liberia is almost 200 years old and nothing good to boast about in terms of achievement, but was optimistic that the Boakai-led government will not fail Liberians in transforming the country.
