Dismissed LDEA Deputy fights back

By Stephen G. Fellajuah

Monrovia, Liberia; August 29, 2025 – The latest dismissal of key officials at the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), including Deputy Director General for Administration, Gwee K. Porkpah, has ignited a firestorm of public debate and political scrutiny.

At the center of the controversy, according to reports, Mr. Porkpah’s claim that senior government officials are involved in the country’s drug trade, a statement he made shortly before his sudden removal by President Joseph N. Boakai.

 The Executive Mansion announced Thursday, August 28, that the President has dismissed three top officials of the LDEA, including Director General Anthony K. Souh, Deputy for Administration Gwee K. Porkpah, and Deputy for Operations Sebastian Farr, citing “administrative reasons.” An interim management team has since been appointed to oversee the Agency’s affairs, drawn from both the Liberia National Police and the National Security Agency.

 President Boakai stated that the decision was part of a broader effort to restructure and strengthen Liberia’s anti-drug institutions, stressing the government’s commitment to eradicating illicit drugs and substance abuse across the country.

 “This action is aimed at strengthening our collective resolve and actions in achieving a country free of illicit drugs and substances,” the President declared. “A task that the Government is committed to sustaining so as to effect a reversal of the current unacceptable situation.”

 However, the timing of Porkpah’s dismissal has raised questions about whether the move was motivated solely by administrative concerns or whether it was an attempt to silence a potential whistleblower.

 In the days leading up to his dismissal, Mr. Porkpah made waves by alleging that “some government officials are reportedly involved in the drug trade.” His comments have not gone unnoticed. Upon the Senate’s return, Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon publicly stated that Porkpah would be called to testify and name those individuals or officials he claimed are involved.

 This has only fueled speculation that the President’s decision may have had political undertones, with some suggesting that Porkpah was removed to prevent him from exposing high-level complicity in Liberia’s growing drug crisis.

 “The public deserves to know the truth,” says a commenter. “If he [Porkpah] has credible evidence, we will hear it. No one is above the law.”

 While Porkpah has yet to provide detailed evidence to support his claims, the growing pressure from the public and lawmakers suggests that his statements will not be easily dismissed.

 To ensure continuity and reform within the LDEA, the President appointed the following officials to an interim leadership team:

 DCP Fitzgerald T. M. Biago (Liberia National Police), Officer-in-Charge, Mr. Ernest T. Tarpeh (National Security Agency), Deputy for Administration/Investigation, and ACP Patrick B. Kormazu (Liberia National Police), Deputy for Operations.

The team will report directly to the Minister of Justice, who has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive 90-day review of the LDEA’s structure, operations, and performance.

 “The new leadership must demonstrate professionalism, diligence, and integrity,” the President said, adding that the Government will pursue a robust and transparent response to Liberia’s drug crisis.

 In the streets of Monrovia and across social media, Liberians are asking a simple but serious question: Was Gwee Porkpah dismissed for administrative failures, or because he spoke out against corruption at the highest levels?

 Opinions are sharply divided. While some defend the President’s authority to appoint and remove agency heads, others believe the timing of the dismissal is a smack of political suppression, especially given Porkpah’s recent accusations.

“This doesn’t look good for the government,” says Mary Flomo, identified as a civil society advocate. “If someone is brave enough to expose wrongdoing, they should be protected, not fired.”

 Transparency advocates are now calling for Porkpah to be granted whistleblower protections and to testify publicly before the Senate. Some also demand that the Justice Ministry’s review should include a full investigation into his allegation. Editing by Jonathan Browne