PAYNESVILLE – The Minister of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning(MFDP), Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has hailed the strong cooperation between the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) that continues to yield fruitful results.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
Minister Ngafuan described the partnership as a critical factor in recent successes against transnational crime, including the seizure of cocaine valued at approximately US$19M at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Margibi County.
Delivering the keynote address at the graduation ceremony of the Liberia National Police Class 47 and Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency Class 3 at the Liberia National Police Training Academy in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, over the weekend, Minister Ngafuan said collaboration among Liberia’s security institutions is producing tangible results in the country’s fight against drug trafficking.
“I want to say that this is a great day because this day shows partnership between the Liberia National Police and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency. The partnership couldn’t have been more obvious, but expected, because the OIC of the LDEA was assigned from the Police. So, I see why they are joined at the hip. It is good for security entities to coordinate and cooperate in operations. It is that strong cooperation that has made you successful in your operations. Recently, we were talking about US$19 million in cocaine confiscated,” the MFDP Minister told the gathering.
According to him, effective coordination between the two institutions has become increasingly evident in recent security operations.
Referring to the recent multi-million-dollar cocaine seizure, he pointed out that the operation demonstrated the value of inter-agency collaboration.
Minister Ngafuan assured officers that the Government of Liberia (GoL) remains committed to improving the welfare of men and women in uniform while continuing to strengthen the country’s security institutions.
Addressing the graduates, he delivered a personal leadership creed to Liberia’s newest police officers and drug enforcement agents: learn to lead sideways and downward, not just upward.
Drawing on memories of his own days at Booker Washington Institute (BWI), where drill and ceremony began at 5 AM, the Minister urged the graduating class of LNP Class 47 and LDEA Class 3 to redefine success.
“Some of you will grow fast; some may not grow as fast. Do not look down on those who grow slower. And those who move slowly, do not envy those who move fast,” he advised.
In what he called “vertical and horizontal leadership,” the MFDP boss challenged the officers to serve in a way that earns recommendation from peers and subordinates alike.
“Will the people below you recommend you for promotion?” he asked. “Will your colleagues say, ‘This is the guy, this is the lady’?”
He also turned to the families in attendance, warning that a police officer’s biggest vulnerability can be at home.
“If a police officer has a wife or husband who does not subscribe to integrity, that wife or husband will be the reason a good police officer starts to slip.” Citing Inspectors General and agency heads who “started from the ground floor,” he told the graduates: “You too can be one of them. That should be your dream.”
The ceremony was graced by Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Liberia Justice Minister, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh Sr., Chairman on security at the Liberian Senate, Momo Cyrus, officials of LNP and others international guests as well as relatives, friends and well-wishers.
