By Kokpar B. Wohwoh
Advocate and Public Affairs Commentator
Liberian, Philadelphia, USA
As investigations into the various drug busts continue in Liberia, I wish to call for caution and tranquility to ensure that credible and accurate results are obtained. The security institutions must be allowed to do their work without pressure or political interference.
Why am I calling for caution? It is because when suspicious individuals, government officials, well-connected people, and their immediate relatives are allegedly linked to such crimes, Liberians tend to be very quick to jump to conclusions. We must be mindful not to contaminate the process for personal or political gain.
My argument is specifically drawn from the alleged linking of Joe Joe Boakai, son of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, to the drug cartel. As an advocate, I protect the interest of the larger society. I do not and will never stand in the gap for any individual whose actions cast dark clouds or derail a credible and genuine investigative process.
It has become a pattern in Liberia, as in other parts of the world, for citizens to rush to judgment with little or no factual information. This approach, which relies on no facts and mere speculation, contaminates high-profile cases and leaves them hanging in the balance without any legal conclusion.
Having reviewed Joe Joe Boakai’s denial of any link to the drug cartel in Liberia and the sub-region, here is my unbiased appraisal.
In favour of Joe Joe, his communication is mature, patriotic, and timely. He rightly puts Liberia first by stating that the fight against drugs is bigger than politics. His decision to break his three-year silence shows a level of confidence. He has also tried to draw a clear line between family relationship and constitutional authority, clarifying that he has never held himself out as a government official and has, since early 2024, distanced himself even from the Liberia Maritime Authority where he previously worked.
On the other hand, his statement is a general character defense and not a specific factual rebuttal to the drug allegation. While he denies involvement in every major business transaction, drug trafficking is not a business transaction; it is a serious crime that requires a direct and unequivocal denial. Also, in Liberia, influence does not require an official title. Being the son of the President carries weight, whether one visits an office or not.
Therefore, my position is this: Let us not condemn Joe Joe Boakai on the basis of rumors, and let us not exonerate him on the basis of a well-written statement. The security agencies must be allowed to conduct a transparent, credible, and professional investigation.
From a historical perspective, Liberia has had no direct conviction of a member of the First Family for drug trafficking. What we have had are other controversies, such as the 2014 case involving the sons of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the US$247,000 seizure from Korean businessmen, which ended with a refund and damages but no drug conviction. In the sub-region, however, there is a direct precedent.
In Guinea-Bissau, Malam Bacai Sanha Jr., son of former President Malam Bacai Sanha, was arrested in Tanzania in 2022, extradited to the United States, and in 2024 sentenced to over six years in federal prison for heroin trafficking to fund a coup.
This drug case is a defining test of President Boakai’s promise to fight corruption and drugs without fear or favor, and how he handles his own son will shape his legacy more than any speech. For the opposition, it is a temptation to politicize the fight, but Liberia cannot afford another embarrassment like the 2022 US$100 million cocaine acquittal that made us a laughingstock.
The only politics that matters now is the politics of law – let justice be blind to bloodline, so Liberia can finally be seen as a country where no one is above the law.
Kokpar B. Wohwoh
Advocate and Public Affairs Commentator
Liberian, Philadelphia, USA