Liberia’s worsening drug crisis worries Grand Bassa County lawmaker Goshua.
By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Grand Bassa, Liberia, January 16, 2025 – Representative Thomas Alexander Goshua of Grand Bassa Electoral District 5 raises serious concern about government’s response to drug abuse in Liberia.
In an interview on January 15, 2025, in the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, Goshua noted that while the government makes public statements about tackling the drug crisis, little effective action has been taken to address the problem, particularly with the rising number of drug addicts, especially among the youth.
The lawmaker warns, “If this issue is not tackled, it will lead to instability, and the vision of peace and development, particularly the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), will be unattainable”.
The ARREST Agenda is President Boakai’s flagship development roadmap for the country that he launched Wednesday, 15 January, in the coastal county, Grand Bassa.
But Goshua paints a grim picture of the current situation, comparing it to Liberia’s past under former President Charles Taylor, when a small group of veterans caused disruptions. Now, he says, there are over 40,000 disadvantaged youth, commonly called ‘zogos’ in the Liberian context, and their conditions are worsening.
He stresses the growing threat posed by these individuals, warning that they could potentially destabilize communities, form powerful groups, and even enter politics to protect their interests.
He reiterates calls for more meaningful efforts to tackle root causes of drug abuse, such as awareness campaigns, cutting drug supplies, and empowering caregivers and civil society organizations.
“Despite the government’s rhetoric, real progress has been minimal, and the crisis continues to claim lives, with at least five deaths daily, according to health workers,” the lawmaker laments.
President Joseph Boakai, in his first State of the Nation address after taking office, declared drug abuse a “public health emergency” and announced a steering committee to tackle the “existential threat”.
For example, Kush, a synthetically-made drug that mimics the effects of cannabis, is wreaking havoc among young people in Liberia and neighboring Sierra Leone.
Users of the highly addictive substance are recognizable by their extreme drowsiness and can be seen anywhere from slums to well-heeled areas.
Boakai said during his 40-minute speech to the Legislature that he and Vice President Jeremiah Koung would be the first to undergo a drug test, prompting a standing ovation in the chamber.
“The drug epidemic, especially the use of kush in our country, is an existential threat eating away at the future of our children and the country,” Boakai said, adding, “We must stand up and face this national security risk together”.
“Given the need for immediate action to make good my pledge to the thousands of families burdened by this crisis, I am hereby declaring drugs and substance abuse as a public health emergency,” the President said.
Former president George Weah, who Boakai beat in run-off poll 2023, was criticized during the election campaign for failing to take sufficient action to counter the scourge while in office. Editing by Jonathan Browne
