MONROVIA – Former Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cephus has called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to establish an Independent Counsel with full prosecutorial powers to lead a serious and strategic campaign against the growing drug epidemic in Liberia.
In a strongly-worded open letter to the President, Cephus accused the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) of disproportionately targeting drug users instead of dismantling major supply chains and prosecuting traffickers and importers. He described the current approach as ineffective and lacking the political will to address the root causes of Liberia’s deepening narcotics problem.
“The war on drugs cannot be won by arresting small-time users,” Cephus wrote. “What Liberia needs is an Independent Counsel—free from political influence and backed with the full force of the law—to pursue those at the top of the drug chain.”
The call comes amid public anxiety over the rising availability and abuse of narcotics, particularly among young people in urban centers. Cephus warned that the government’s current strategy risks failing a generation unless urgent structural reforms are enacted.
A Nation in Decline: Cephus Paints Grim Picture of Life Under Boakai
Beyond the drug crisis, Cephus also raised alarm over what he described as worsening living conditions under the Boakai administration. He painted a bleak portrait of life for ordinary Liberians, citing hunger, joblessness, and economic paralysis as signs of a country in distress.
“The Liberian people are suffering,” Cephus declared, urging the President to go beyond cabinet briefings and embark on unannounced tours of vulnerable communities like West Point, Soniwein, and his own hometown in River Gee to witness the hardship firsthand.
Concerns Over Governance, Nepotism, and Public Trust
Cephus also criticized the President’s inner circle, warning that a small group of close associates may be wielding undue influence and distorting the flow of truth to the presidency. He warned that this could render the President increasingly inaccessible and disconnected from the public’s daily struggles.
On governance, the former Solicitor General urged Boakai to rethink his approach to public appointments. He accused the administration of prioritizing regionalism and personal connections over competence and merit, a pattern he warned could fuel public resentment and eventual political fallout.
Personal Grievance: Unpaid Compensation to Suspended Niece
In the letter, Cephus also raised a personal concern involving his niece, Elizabeth Dorkin, whose court-mandated compensation for her unexpired term in office remains unpaid. He labeled the government’s failure to honor the agreement as discriminatory and contradictory to Boakai’s much-touted ARREST Agenda.
A Final Appeal for Leadership and Redemption
Despite the pointed criticism, Cephus ended on a note of cautious optimism, urging President Boakai to reassess his “Rescue Team,” promote national reconciliation through inclusive appointments, and take bold but just measures to address Liberia’s deteriorating conditions.
“There is still time to rescue the Rescue Mission,” Cephus concluded. As discontent simmers nationwide, his letter adds to growing public calls for transparency, competent governance, and urgent reforms in Liberia’s fight against poverty, drugs, and corruption.
