Liberia: ‘These Allegations Compromise ECOWAS Security’ – Sen. Karnga-Lawrence Says; Calls for Independent Investigation in Alleged Diplomatic Passport Fraud

MONROVIA – Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence (Liberty Party, Grand Bassa County) laments that the allegations of Liberian diplomatic passports being sold to drug lords under the guise of they being Liberia’s representatives in other countries has the tendency of undermining the security of entire West Africa.

Sen. Lawrence said the compromise of Liberia’s international standing and reputation dangerously risks every Liberian holding a passport including diplomats.

“Our passports are linked to the West African Sub-region. Each passport designate its holder as representing the broader West African space. To criminally sell these passports, as it is being alleged, to international criminals and terrorists, is to risk our credibility in Ecowas, and undermine our regional standing,” Sen. Lawrence noted.

She added: “As a proud Liberian, a Senator, and a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, I hope that these allegations, which now swirl around the President and the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, are not true. Because were they to be true, they would present us with our most embarrassing, shameful and degrading international moment since the war brought our nation to our collective knees.”

She has admonished an independent inquiry into the alleged scandal, stating that the inquiry should be conducted by individuals and institutions with credibility and reputation to persuade that the findings and recommendations are supported by the evidence.

She also stated that recommendations that would emanate from the investigation should be made public and implemented.

“As a proud Liberian, a Senator, and a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, I hope that these allegations, which now swirl around the President and the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, are not true. Because were they to be true, they would present us with our most embarrassing, shameful and degrading international moment since the war brought our nation to our collective knees.”

– Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence

Senator Lawrence stated that the seriousness of the allegations that the former Director of Passport known to have been extremely loyal to the President and the CDC  who has been designated by the United States to be corrupt, and that the corruption in the sales of Liberian passports have compromised international immigration procedures and security.

Sen. Lawrence: “While yet they remain allegations, it does not lessen the troubling and disturbing  feeling that during the time it is alleged that international criminals and terrorists were filling the personal pockets of their Liberian Government accomplices, some of whom have the sworn duty to our country to ensure that such crimes never happen, and our international image and reputation are never compromised or put up for sale, the price of passports for ordinary citizens  were being increased and made very difficult to get.”

She added: “While yet they remain allegations, it does not lessen the troubling and disturbing feeling that this administration is squandering Liberia’s international goodwill and reputation on the altar of shady deals, incompetence, thievery, and disloyalty to the country. Little wonder therefore that the Weah Administration seeks to appoint to responsible positions in the country, not the best our country has to offer, but the least experienced and obviously most incompetent individuals whose qualification must only be a willingness to blindly do whatever the President instructs, even if it is knowingly illegal and a gross disservice to the nation.”