Monrovia, Liberia – August 26, 2026 – Senator Amara Konneh has urged government institutions to adopt a principled but inclusive “win-win” strategy in tackling drug trafficking, stressing that equal justice, transparency, and adequate funding are essential to defeating cartels and restoring public trust.
Speaking at the Edward Wilmot Blyden Intellectual Discourse organized by the Press Union of Liberia under the theme “Confronting Drug Trafficking: Strengthening Institutions, Advancing Accountability, and Safeguarding the Rule of Law”, Konneh commended President Joseph Boakai, the Liberian Senate, and the Joint Security Task Force for recent actions against illicit drugs. He noted that unlike past administrations, the current government has demonstrated political will by seizing narcotics, dismissing implicated officials, and publicly destroying confiscated substances.
However, Konneh warned that suspensions and drug burnings are “the easy part,” emphasizing that convictions in court remain the true test of accountability. He recalled Liberia’s failure to secure a conviction in the $100 million cocaine case of 2023 due to weak prosecution and broken evidentiary procedures. “Selective justice kills trust; full justice builds trust,” he declared, urging the Ministry of Justice to prosecute all implicated officers within 90 days or reinstate those without evidence.
The Senator outlined four “win-win” solutions:
- Equal Justice: Apply the same legal standards to all suspects, regardless of rank or uniform.
- Transparency in Security Institutions: Publish procurement and financial records to dispel rumors of mismanagement and strengthen credibility.
- Funding the Fight: Provide hazard pay, insurance, and a forensic drug lab for the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), alongside a Special Drug Court to expedite trials.
- Systemic Enforcement: Implement asset forfeiture provisions to fund rehabilitation centers and strictly enforce chain-of-custody rules under the Revised Drug Law of 2023.
Konneh also shared a personal tragedy, revealing that three of his nephews had fallen victim to drugs, with one recently passing away. He said this underscores the urgency of the fight, which he insisted must transcend politics.
Quoting Blyden’s vision that “Africa can still be the hope of the world,” Konneh concluded that Liberia can lead by example if institutions enforce justice without favoritism. “No selective justice. No sacred cows. No endless investigations,” he said. “If we fund our institutions and demand transparency, the President wins, the Task Force wins, and Liberia wins. All of us win.”
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