By Stephen N. Tokpah
(freelancer)
With support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and partners, the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) has celebrated another milestone as it graduates its 7th batch of in-service training.
The LIS is one of the security agencies of the Ministry of Justice charged with the statutory mandate to enforce the Alien and Nationality Law of Liberia; and that in fulfillment of this primary responsibility, the Liberia Immigration Service guards and protects the territorial boundaries and borders of Liberia against the illegal entry of persons into the country: manages all land, air and sea borders and liaises with relevant government institutions to conduct background checks and screening of persons wanting to be issued national identity documents, such as passports, birth certificates and national identity cards.
LIS also participates in joint security operations to supplement the efforts of the Liberia National Police to ensure the maintenance of peace and security in Liberia.
The ceremony took place at the Regional Justice and Security Hub and it was attended by members of the joint security, county and government officials, as well as delegates from Sierra Leone under the theme “LIS; Spirited and Rejuvenated to Serve.”
A total of 182 graduates were honored for their hard work and determination after the 14 days of training while the guest speaker, Alusine Kanneh, emphasized the need for Liberia to promote regional integration and advocated for the promotion of the ECOWAS green card.
The Chief Immigration Officer of Sierra Leone also urged the graduates to utilize their training to create a safer community in their respective areas of assignment.
The Bong County Legislative Caucus Chairperson, Senator Prince K. Moye, appreciated the UNDP for being the government’s developmental counterpart and expressed the Liberian Legislature’s leadership commitment to addressing challenges confronting the wellbeing of Security institutions in the country through budgetary allocation.
The Liberian Senate Ways Means and Finance Chairman emphasized that the government remains steadfast in the increment of institutions budget for the overall development and growth of those institutions.
The Liberia’s Immigration Service Commissioner General, Stephen Zargo highlighted the importance of empowering the country’s security sector through proper budgetary support but stressed the role of the graduates in contributing to the nation-building process through their effective provision of security services.
The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Liberia, Anthony Ohemeng-Boamah, urged the LIS officers to uphold professionalism and contribute to the rule of Law and further revealed that as part of the rule of law Joint Programme since 2017 the UNDP has trained over 1,178 officers and successfully conducted placement exams for 1,762 officers.
“This compliments and other ongoing initiatives aimed at aligning LIS’ operations and service delivery with international standards and best practices,” Ohemeng-Boamah added.
The UNDP Resident Representative to Liberia further expressed his institution’s commitment in collaborating with national actors and partners to strengthen institutional capacity of the security sector, the justice sector as well as civil society and community-based organizations in Liberia.
The graduation ceremony marks a significant step forward for the Liberia Immigration Service and demonstrates their commitment to improving their capabilities and professionalism and with support from the UNDP and partners, the LIS continues to develop and strengthen its workforce to better serve the nation and contribute to regional integration efforts.
As the graduates embark on their new roles, they carry with them the knowledge and skills acquired during their training couple with their commitment to the security and safety of the community will undoubtedly contribute to a stronger and more secure Liberia.
