Truth-telling has never been easy. Those who challenge powerful people often pay a heavy price, as the biblical account of John the Baptist reminds us. Yet the lesson remains clear: societies cannot defend justice by remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing. Truth must be pursued responsibly, fairly and without fear.
That principle is particularly important as Liberia confronts the serious threat posed by narcotics trafficking. President Joseph Boakai’s administration deserves recognition for making the drug fight a national priority.
Arrests, investigations and prosecutions signal that the government understands the damage drugs inflict on families, communities, public health and national security.
But a credible campaign against narcotics cannot depend only on the number of arrests. It must also be judged by the fairness, transparency and consistency with which the law is applied.
Concerns have been raised about Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman, including allegations of improper associations, gifts involving persons linked to suspected traffickers and irregularities surrounding police procurement and the ownership or registration of state-purchased vehicles in the name of select individuals within the police force. These are serious claims.
They must not be treated as established facts without evidence, but neither should they be dismissed because the accused occupies a powerful office.
The appropriate response is an independent, transparent investigation. If the allegations are false, such an inquiry would clear the inspector general’s name. If they have merit, the public must be assured that no official is beyond accountability. Presidential confidence in an appointee should not replace institutional scrutiny.
The same standard must apply to allegations involving other senior officials, political actors or individuals connected to the administration. Claims that state contracts, equipment purchases or other government transactions like the “yellow machines” may have been influenced by persons linked to drug networks require careful examination. Public silence, especially where questions concern the use of state resources, only deepens suspicion.
President Boakai’s public support for the police leadership is understandable as a matter of administration. However, continued political backing in the face of unresolved allegations can create the impression that the government is applying one standard to those it prosecutes and another to those close to power. That would undermine the drug war and damage the president’s broader reform agenda.
The government cannot credibly pursue alleged traffickers while leaving unanswered questions about officials who may have interacted with, benefited from or protected them. Justice must not be selective. A person’s political position, public reputation or relationship with the president cannot determine whether allegations are investigated.
This is not a call for conviction by rumor or trial by media. Every accused person is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence. But due process requires investigation, not inaction. Accountability requires evidence, not political loyalty. And the rule of law requires the same process for the powerful as for the vulnerable.
Religious leaders, civil society organizations, professional associations and Liberia’s international partners should also encourage truth, transparency and lawful accountability.
The diplomatic community’s role is not to dictate Liberia’s affairs, but concern for justice is not interference. In a connected world, corruption, organized crime and narcotics trafficking do not respect borders.
President Boakai still has an opportunity to strengthen public confidence and address the Immorality of his war on narcotics trafficking.
He should support independent investigations into all credible allegations, disclose the findings where legally possible, protect investigators from political pressure and ensure that state property is properly recorded and safeguarded.
Truth may be uncomfortable, but concealment is more dangerous. No government can defeat criminality while appearing to protect those within its own circle.
