MONROVIA – The National Youth League of the Coalition for Democratic Change has called on the Liberian Senate to deny the confirmation of the Director General designate, Abraham Kromah for the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA).
By Blamo N. Toe/Contributing Writer
In a press release issued Wednesday, January 31, 2024, the Youth League requests the Senate Committee on National Defense, Security, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs to reject the LDEA Boss designate for several stated reasons including his link to United Liberation Movement for Democracy in Liberia (ULIMO –K), a warring faction from 1996-1997.
“Mr. Kromah represented the United Liberation Movement for Democracy in Liberia (ULIMO –K) warring faction as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia from 1996-1997 during the Interim Council Government of Ruth Sando Perry,” the League Chair Emmanuel Mulbah Johnson said.
He claimed in the release that the nominee was awarded the position due to his role played within the ULIMO-K warring faction specifically for his protracted record of human rights violation as documented by the mayhem and carnage caused by an active member.
“It seems the brutal killings of over 250,000 Liberians mostly women and children by Mr. Kromah’s ULIMO-K and other warring factions during the civil war was not enough, the appointment and subsequent confirmation of Mr. Kromah as Deputy Inspector General of the Liberian National Police (LNP) led to a significant increase in human rights violations and police brutality,” the statement added.
The CDC National League stressed that the senate’s confirmation of Mr. Kromah to the position of LDEA Boss will be an endorsement of violent, civil unrest, mass protest and a complete disregard for the rule of law in Liberia.
In the communication addressed to the Chair of the Senate Committee on National Defense, Security, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs, Lofa County Senator Momo T. Cyrus, the major opposition political group also attached several links capturing Abraham Kromah’s alleged violent acts committed against peaceful citizens and journalists for which he was dismissed by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
The Youth League of the CDC sees the nomination of Mr. Abraham Kromah as a recipe for chaos.
“As the saying goes “A leopard can’t change its spots “so is the case with the nominee and his deadly record. The nominee is noted for inflicting wounds and casualties against peaceful citizens, political activists and opposition. This reckless and unprofessional action on his part led to his dismissal by President Sirleaf in 2015,” Mr. Johnson emphasized.
According to the Youth League, the nominee has proven to be a political person who over the time has been involved into political altercations with those he sees as an opponent and one person is former President George Manneh Weah.
“Mr. Kromah once called President Weah an “unsophisticated idiot” and was seen actively campaigning for the Unity Party candidate in Joseph Boakai. The nominee’s track record of abuse, political intimidation and human rights violations isn’t just limited to those he perceives as political opponents, but also journalists and peaceful citizens,” it stated.
Emmanuel Mulbah Johnson told Senator Cyrus that as part of his committee’s exclusive responsibility to vet nominees of national security, he also has the moral responsibility to safeguard the peace of the country and confirm people of extreme neutrality as security personnel.
You must do so without fear in order to have a non-partisan security force. We believe that the nominee doesn’t pass the neutrality test and doesn’t have the moral rectitude to lead the fight against illicit drugs and substance abuse,” Johnson intimated.
Meanwhile, the National Youth League of the former ruling party, the CDC has reminded the Senate and Senator Momo Cyrus about the alleged human rights violation of the nominee.
“We would like for you to conduct a public national drug test for him and all the nominees in the security sector,” the press statement bearing the authority of Mr. Johnson concluded.