The Government of Liberia seems to be dragging its feet in providing transportation funding for logistical equipment donated by the African Union to the Armed Forces of Liberia. The AFL faces serious logistical challenges and needs the donation so badly to enhance its mobility and service-delivery capacity to the state.
But the government, under Commander-In-Chief President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, seems to be moving at a very slow pace in providing US$1.3 million to transport equipment valued at about US$20 million from Cameroun to Liberia for its military.
The donation includes military vehicles, earth-moving machines, fire trucks, and other essential assets left over from AU peacekeeping missions that are useful for Liberia and could go a very long way in boosting operational functions of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
But it is lingering at the AU’s Continental Logistics Base in Douala, Cameroon, according to Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) Brigadier General Davidson F. Forleh, who appears to be restless in knocking on every door in the government for the US$1.3 million transportation cost to have it in the country.
Liberia seems to be behaving in a manner that we say here that you gave a man to a woman, and then he looks up to you for a mattress. The government of President Boakai should source funding immediately to have the equipment transported to the country; it is vital for our security sector, especially the military.
We believe that further delays could be dangerous, as other countries could take advantage of the opportunity if we failed to act urgently as a country. We cannot be lackluster about everything and expect to move ahead in this contemporary era.
We should not forget that a poorly prepared military in Liberia would become a laughter in the subregion. This is something that no patriotic Liberian wants. We may be a small country, but we are a proud and resilient people.
Negotiation for the equipment, including diplomatic and military engagement with the AU, started in 2018, according to Chief of Staff Brigadier General Forleh, who represented the country as Defense Attaché to the AU.
We call on the 55th Legislature to intervene in identifying funding for this important cause just as it moved with a 4G speed in budgeting US$1.8 million to renovate the damaged floor of the Capitol Building that was gutted by fire.
We believe strongly that bringing in the equipment will be a significant boost for the security sector, particularly the AFL, a Force for Good. Government must place premium on our gallant men and women in arms as they sacrifice to defend the Motherland. This is an opportunity to modernize the capacity of our boys.
