The Officer-in-Charge of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Christopher Peters, on Thursday, October 10, 2024 resigned his position at the entity amidst report that President Joseph N. Boakai has resolved to dismiss all the three suspended officials of the institution and appoint new heads for the entity.
According to sources, President Boakai is resolute on firing all three of the suspended LDEA bosses: Director General Abraham S. Kromah, Deputy Director General for Administration Gbawou Kowou, and Deputy Director General for Operations Hassan Fadiga.
It can be recalled that on June 4, 2024 President Boakai suspended, with immediate effect and without pay, Col. Kromah, Kowou and Fadiga, pending investigation, for acts of disorder and chaos, that took place at the headquarters of the LDEA.
The President then named Christopher Peters as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the agency pending the conclusion of the investigation.
But in a letter addressed to the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Sylvester M. Grigsby, dated October 10, 2024, Peters wrote, “Please convey my humblest gratitude and thanks to His Excellency President Joseph N. Boakai, as I tender in my resignation as Officer-in-Charge of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA), a position to which I was appointed on June 4, 2024. My family and I are entirely honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve our beloved people and country through the LDEA.
“Over the last 4 months as OIC-LDEA, we were able to lead a team of committed employees to seize drugs in the value of US$4 million and secured long imprisonment (10yrs, 7yrs, amongst others) terms for convicted drugs dealers/traffickers through the courts of Liberia and began some institutional reforms amidst the difficult constraints the Agency faces. Above all, we kept the Agency calmer, united and focused on drugs/narcotic supply reduction, while at the same time working with the National Steering Committee to achieve the goals of Drugs Demand Reduction (Prevention & Rehabilitation).
“The LDEA is understaffed and confronted with repeated low budgetary support, low salaries and huge salary disparities, including lack of adequate training and logistics. To win the war on drugs, LDEA will need strategic reforms, training and employment of additional staffers, adequate budget, logistics and support from key partners. At the summit of these, calm, not impulsive, mature, professional and a team-building leadership will be required to move the agency to its noblest height.
“Having said that Minister Grigsby, kindly inform His Excellency that I thank him again for the opportunity, but that I need to return to the employment held prior to my appointment as OIC. Hence, my resignation will take effect on October 31, 2024. I will be happy to brief whoever is nominated so they can hit the ground running.
“Again, I am grateful to his Excellency for the opportunity. I wish him all the best as he serves our country and endeavors to end ‘business as usual’.”