By Bill W. Cooper
The Liberia National Police (LNP) Deputy Inspector General for Crimes Services, Prince Mulbah, has made a startling revelation with just few days to the conduct of the country’s elections.
Col. Mulbah, in a bold statement, emphatically attributed the issue of police officers’ political interference to unprofessionalism, lack of political will, and corruption from top officers within the LNP.
The Deputy Police IG further raised concerns about the negative impact of political influences on the professional conduct and effectiveness of the police force, something he said, has always undermined the working of the LNP.
He spoke Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at the start of a five-day National Case Mentoring and Workshop on Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption with Law Enforcement Agencies, organized by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and INTERPOL in Sinkor.
Col. Mulbah, expressing his deep concern over the increasing cases of unprofessional behavior being exhibited by police officers, highlighted the significant role that external political interference plays in compromising the integrity and effectiveness of the police force in carrying out its duties.
He also emphasized that political interference negatively affects the recruitment, training, and promotion of officers, ultimately creating a culture of unprofessionalism within the force.
Col. Mulbah cited examples of instances where politically motivated appointments and promotions have jeopardized the merit-based selection system that should govern the police force, especially from some higher-ups in government.
According to him, the fight against corruption in Liberia now starts with the police, whom he said is the premiere, internal security institution, meaning the first line of defense internally.
This, he stressed, “So, if the police itself is corrupt, the foundation is cracking. And that’s why anytime we talk about the issues of corruption, we first speak to our conscience.”
“Now, is the police really up to the task to fight corruption? In my own view, I will say yes, but it has to do with leadership,” he intoned.
According to him, they as leaders and appointed by the President were sent at the LNP to ensure the good order of the police, and as such, officers in the streets should not be held responsible for the dismal performance of the police.
This, he pointed out, that if they all were on top of their games, the LNP would have been one of the most professional security institutions in Liberia.
“But again, the challenge we have had over the years and every time we appear in public places is political interference, and if we must realize our full potential to fight corruption, the police should be free of political interference,” Col. Mulbah cautioned.
He then thanked the LACC and INTERPOL for initiating the training, which he described as timely, expressing his optimism about the potential positive outcomes of the training to address the issues of corruption in Liberia.
