Monrovia – Bouncing back with more vigor than ever, reappointed Deputy Inspector General of Police, Col. Abraham Kromah, seems to be brushing aside excuses of low budgetary support to the Police as reason for the low performance of the Police; promising that the Police, under the new leadership would improve its quality of service, even in the absence of adequate budgetary support.
Report by Edwin G. Genoway – [email protected]
Despite the outcry of low budgetary support to the Police under the Chris Massaquoi administration, Col. Kromah said evidenced by structural and infrastructural reforms going on at the Liberia National Police (LNP), the new leadership is bent on having an ever-ready, vigilant and professional Police force that the public would have confidence in.
He also disclosed that the Police was ready to provide security for the upcoming elections as there are enough manpower in addition to the Bureau of Immigration and other security agencies that are ready to work with the National Elections Commission (NEC).
The ensuing election in 2017 would be the third successive post war election, but will also see no real incumbent factor as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will be completing her tenure.
While the political fever is already in the air, there are security concerns with some Liberian government officials fearing that the local security might have some challenges providing security during the election, with many pushing for the presence of foreign troops to help.
Senator Steve Zargo of Lofa County recently expressed similar concerns during a press conference and another Lawmaker, Representative Bhofal Chambers on August 4, 2015 wrote the Plenary of the House of Representatives at that time requesting that body to prevail on UNMIL to leave a small force on the ground to help with security.
During its 53rd sitting, the House of Representatives mandated its Committees on Foreign Affairs, National Security and Defense to advise Plenary whether it was necessary for the body to plead with the United Nations for the presence of foreign troops in 2017.
The Committee report is yet to be made public but UNMIL on June 30 turned security matters in the hands of the Government of Liberia.
Deputy Police Inspector General for Operations expressed readiness of the Police, despite budgetary constraints.
Addressing a wide range of issues on Capitol FM, a local radio station in Monrovia, Thursday noted that the Liberia National Police was making progress in its effectiveness.
“As you can see under this leadership of Gregory Coleman, the Liberia National Police is making progress in the absence of needed budgetary allotment before the fund can arrive; we are working and improving those areas that do not need huge sum of money as you can see,” he said.
Col. Kromah said with the minimum monetary allotment available to the Police, the Gregory Coleman administration has made progress in the absent of budgetary allotment.
He added that the operations of the Police without budgetary allotment should not be an excuse for the performance of the Police, noting, efforts are being pushed and some projects are currently being implemented by authority of the Police before the arrival of the Police budget.
Col. Kromah said he was happy that he has been vindicated from all of the allegations and perception people had about the Liberia National Police.