Discourage Politicizing State Security And “Review, Update, And Approve A Comprehensive National Security Strategy”
By Our Reporter
The Criminal Justice Support Foundation for West Africa is calling for all security officials to be nominated by incoming President Joseph Boakai to be “meticulously” vetted, in order to ensure that “nominees do not have human rights, criminal records or corrupt tendencies, thereby enhancing operational effectiveness and public trust” and frowned on the politicizing of state security apparatus.
It says the appointments of every security official should be aligned with the agency’s laws. Citing one of the agencies’ laws, the Liberian National Police Act of 2015, Section 22.76, which provides that “The Inspector General and Deputy Inspector Generals shall be person (s) of proven integrity, high moral standards and undisputed competence in matters relating to the security sector and a graduate from a recognized university with at least a bachelor’s degree.
President-elect Joseph Nyumah Boakai of the main opposition Unity Party (UP), who defeated current President George Manneh Weah of the ruling CDC in the November 14, 2023 presidential runoff election, is due to be inaugurated as President of Liberia on January 22 this year.
In a statement released to the media today, January 10, 2024, the Criminal Justice Support Foundation for West Africa strongly discourage politicizing of the state security apparatus in Liberia, urging that “the Ruling Party should discourage police and other law enforcement officers from lobbying with the Party for appointments”.
Cecil B. Griffiths, President of the Criminal Justice Support Foundation for West Africa
It also urged the incoming government “review, update, and approve a comprehensive National Security Strategy that addresses our current challenges and future threats”, as well as to “to enhance the effectiveness and responsiveness of this critical institution, it is crucial to grant it semi-autonomous status”.
The group has also added its voice to calls to make the National Bureau of Correction autonomous, enact a law to regulate Liberia’s sector and institutionalize Gender Mainstreaming and Equality in the national security sector.
Among other things, it also called for the Civilian Complaints Review Boards of the Police and Immigration Services to be fully supported and held accountable to the public in the discharge of their duties.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Justice Support Foundation For West Africa has expressed its commitment to pursue a collaborative working relationship with the incoming Boakai government, stressing the need to prioritize the “nation’s security and well-being of every citizen”.
SEE BELOW FULL TEXT OF THE FOUNDATION’S STATEMENT:
PRESS STATEMENT – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2024
The Criminal Justice Support Foundation for West Africa, in partnership with our esteem counterparts, the Civil Society Working Group on Security Sector Reform and Governance, comprising the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association, Community Watch Forum of Liberia, Center for Justice and Peace Studies, Citizens Initiative for Dialogue, the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), the Criminal Justice Association of Liberia, Rural Human Rights Activist Programme, the Federation of Liberian Youths, Prison Fellowship Liberia, and the National Coalition of Civil Society Organizations of Liberia, is issuing this press statement to guide the incoming administration on critical security issues. As the new administration prepares to take office, it is imperative to bring to light key areas of focus we believe warrant immediate attention and action.
- Vetted appointments: We urge the Liberian Senate to meticulously vet all nominees for security executive positions. This is to ensure that every appointment aligns with the agency’s laws and regulations, and that nominees do not have human rights, criminal records or corrupt tendencies, thereby enhancing operational effectiveness and public trust.
The Liberia National Police Act 2015, Section 22.76 provides that “The Inspector General and Deputy Inspector Generals shall be person (s) of proven integrity, high moral standards and undisputed competence in matters relating to the security sector and a graduate from a recognized university with at least a bachelor’s degree.
In order to be appointed as one of the Deputy Inspector Generals, Section 22.79 of the Police Act provides that
(d). A Deputy Inspector General of Police shall be a Police officer within the meaning of this Act (Police Act), and possess proven capacities in police administration, operations and training.
Police officer as defined in the Act “means an employee of the LNP who has met the recruitment criteria in this Act and has been certified by the Liberia National Police Academy and Training School as having undergone basic police training as a police officer or as having met any other entry level requirement as may be approved in the LNP Recruitment guidelines.” This means that, until this provision is amended, only current police officers are eligible for appointment as Deputy Inspector Generals of Police. We urge the appointing authority to seek legal advice on this provision before nominating individuals to Deputy Inspector General positions.
Additionally, 22.88 of the Police Act prohibit police officers from engaging in party politics under
“Rights and Conditions of Service of Police officers.”
22.88 (b) (i) (3) Recruitment requirements:
A person is eligible to join the Liberia National Police if he or she
(h) Is not a holder of any office in a political party or similar organizations, and does not openly engage in party political activities.
The Ruling Party should discourage police and other law enforcement officers from lobbying with the
Party for appointments. All positions below the Deputies should be appointed as prescribed in the Regulations and Administrative instructions of the Liberia National Police which is done internally.
We urge the Senate to do due diligence for appointments of individuals of other law enforcement agencies which do not have similar provisions in their establishment Acts.
- National Security Strategy: Our country’s security landscape has evolved, and our national security strategy needs to reflect its evolution. We urge the incoming administration to review, update, and approve a comprehensive National Security Strategy that addresses our current challenges and future threats.
A National Security Strategy is a comprehensive plan developed by a country to protect and promote its national interests, values, and security. It serves as a guiding document that outlines the country’s objectives, threats, and the means to address those threats in order to achieve its security goals.
In summary, a national security strategy is crucial for a country to protect its national interests, assess threats allocate resources effectively, coordinate efforts, engage in diplomacy, manage crisis, and plan for the future. It provides a comprehensive and strategic approach to enhance a country’s security and safeguard its citizens.
Liberia’s National Security Strategy was developed in 2008 and should have been revised in 2018. The revised draft National Security Strategy was prepared by the Ellen Johnson Administration and turned over to the Weah Administration for review and approval. Unfortunately, the revised draft strategy was not attended to, thus leaving the security services in a state of oblivion.
We hope the incoming administration will prioritize the review and approval of the revised National Security Strategy within the first six months of coming into office.
- Autonomy of the Bureau of Correction and Rehabilitation: To enhance the effectiveness and responsiveness of this critical institution, it is crucial to grant it semi-autonomous status.
The Liberia Corrections Service Act was reviewed and validated by experts from stakeholders including the American Bar Association, the Law Reform Commission, the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association, and the Department of Codification of the Ministry of Justice, among others. The exercises were under the sponsorship of the UNDP. This current version of the Act is before the Honourable Legislature for passage, after it commenced more than fifteen years ago. We urge the incoming government to ensure the passage of this Act to empower the Bureau to develop staff and programs to meet international standards relating to segregation of prisoners by sex, age and type of crimes committed, facilitate effective gender mainstreaming with the system, respond to the unique challenges it faces and improve the delivery of services.
- Regulation of the private security Sector: The growing role of private security companies necessitates regulatory oversight to ensure professionalism, accountability, and adherence to human rights standards. We call upon the government to enact a law that will regulate the private security sector.
A National study conducted on the private security industry in Liberia by LINLEA’s Center for Criminal Justice Research and Education revealed that a significant number of private security companies and plant protection forces are not in compliance with the Ministry of Justice Guidelines for the establishment and operations of private security companies in Liberia. Some are not registered with the Public Safety Department of the Ministry of Justice, while some others have failed to renew their licenses. The guidelines needs to be upgraded to a legislation to ensure professionalism, accountability, and adherence to human rights standards and compliance to the legal frame work guiding PCS and related services.
- Gender Mainstreaming and Equality: The commitment to gender equality must extend to our security apparatus.
Although the National Security Strategy of 2008 encouraged security agencies to strive for 20 per cent female employment, the Liberia National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2019) calls for the increased the participation and leadership of women and young girls in Security Sector Institutions (SSIs), setting the following targets for women employment: Liberia National Police – 30 per cent, Liberia Immigration Service – 30 per cent, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency – 20 per cent, Armed Forces of Liberia – 10 per cent and Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation – 30 per cent.
Liberia adopted the first NAP on WPS in May 2009 for the period 2009 to 2013. In November 2019, the Second Phase NAP on WPS covering the period 2019 to 2023 was released. The overall goal of the NAP is: “Women and girls’ safety, physical and mental health and security are assured; and are fully protected under legislation and policies that promote their empowerment and full participation at all levels, in building sustainable and inclusive, peace and security in Liberia”.
In order to facilitate the achievement of these targets, we urge the Ruling Party to strive to nominate at least 30 per cent females to security executive positions in order to foster diversity and inclusion in our security institutions.
- Support for the Civilian Complaints Review Board: For the Police and Immigration Services to be held accountable to the public in the discharge of their duties, it is vital that the LNP/LIS Civilian
Complaints Review Board be fully funded and supported. The CCRB was officially launched in January
2019 to ensure that complaints against police and immigration officers and the respective institutions are professionally investigated and resolved. Unfortunately, for the past 5 years the
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has failed to allocate budget for the operations of the
Board under the excuse that ‘there is no money.’ Despite provisions in the law that every public officer or institution must provide all the necessary support to make the Board functional, support from the Ministry of Finance has not been forthcoming. It is therefore very important that the incoming Government take immediate steps to ensure that this important oversight body is fully functional and effective in order to promote accountability and strengthen public confidence in these critical institutions.
- Review of establishment Acts: The Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement called for the restructuring of Liberia’s security institutions. Unfortunately, only the Liberia National Police and the Armed Forces of Liberia were restructured. In order to address the gaps in Liberia’s SSRG, new legislation were crafted for the Police and Immigration Services which incorporated internal and external oversight mechanisms that promoted accountability and sound management practices, and prohibited partisan approach to duties. The establishment Acts of the following agencies need to be reviewed and upgraded: The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, the Liberia National Fire Service, the Executive Protection Service, and the Bureau of Customs and Excise, to facilitate reform and restructuring and ensure that these institutions meet international standards.
Additionally, the National Security Strategy also mandated that the functions of the Monrovia City Police and the Liberia Seaport Police be regulated by a new legislation, following a public review.
- Role of civil society organizations: The National Security Strategy (2008) emphasizes that all of the security institutions must be subjected to public scrutiny when significant public and national interests are involved, and noted that civil society has a significant role to play in this respect. ECOWAS also acknowledges the positive role played by civil society in maintaining peace and security in the sub-region. We therefore call on all civil society organizations to remain vigilant in monitoring the confirmation process of not only security executives, but all ministerial and other agency heads confirmation process and provide inputs where necessary to the Senate. This will ensure a transparent and democratic process.
Finally, a couple of weeks ago, we highlighted the issue of financial scandal at the Executive Protection Service for which some members of the Service threatened to disrupt the inauguration of the new government. We are reliably informed that the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating the issue. We are not sure whether they have completed their investigation, but we strongly believe that efforts should be made to reach out to the affected staff of the EPS to assure them that their moneys will be retrieved that those responsible will be brought to justice. There is still discontent brewing under the surface.
Our security is the bedrock upon which our nation thrives. We call upon the incoming administration to implement these recommendations to foster a safer, more secure, and more inclusive society. We stand ready to support this critical transition and look forward to a collaborative relationship that prioritizes our nation’s security and well-being of every citizen.
Signed:______ ___________ ______
Cecil B. Griffiths
President
Criminal Justice Support Foundation for West Africa