Monrovia – The Liberia National Police have deployed riot officers at the Ministry of Justice following the gathering of former agents of the Executive Protection Service (EPS), who are demanding their retirement benefits.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972) – [email protected]
On Thursday morning, the former agents assembled outside the Ministry, pressing for the payment of benefits owed to them. Most of these individuals were employed during the administration of former President George Weah but were dismissed shortly after the inauguration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
For over nine months, the issue of retirement benefits has remained unresolved, and the agents are growing increasingly frustrated.
Some agents, speaking on condition of anonymity, informed FrontPage Africa that a Ministry of Justice official told them Justice Minister Cllr. Oswald Tweh was attending a Cabinet retreat at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town. According to the official, Minister Tweh intends to address their concerns once he concludes the meeting.
One of the agents told FPA: “The police are not our issue. We’re not against the police because we, too, are security personnel. We just want to hear from the Minister. He promised that once the President returned to the country, our concerns would be addressed. Now that the President is back, we want to hear from the Minister about our benefits.”
Charles G. Helb Jr., Acting Director of Press and Public Affairs at the Ministry, told FrontPage Africa that the presence of the former agents has not disrupted the Ministry’s operations.
“We are aware of their presence. They came to meet with the Minister. Right now, everything is calm,” Helb said. “The joint security is on-site, and the situation is under control. The Minister is in a meeting.”