Over three hundred former officers of the Liberia Executive Protection Service (EPS), recently laid off by the institution’s authority, have threatened to stage massive protest.
The aggrieved officers, who claim to have served since 2018, assert that the action taken by EPS Director Sam Gay is both unjust and illegal.
They made the pronouncement at a press conference held in Monrovia today.
“No individual has the right to deny us the opportunity to serve our country,” stated Godfrey Weah, spokesperson for the aggrieved officers, during a press conference held today. The former officers argue that their dismissals have led to significant hardships for their families, with the reopening of schools imminent and their children facing the prospect of being unable to attend.
The officers are calling on the government and international partners to rectify what they describe as a gross injustice before the situation escalates. They emphasize that their silence should not be mistaken for weakness, but rather a high level of respect for the leadership of the 55th Legislature, including Speaker Fonati Koffa and Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence.
Despite filing a formal complaint and being promised a response, the officers are still awaiting a resolution. “If our concerns are not addressed in the shortest possible time, we will take to the streets with our families, who are already suffering,” Weah warned. The group has explicitly cautioned the Liberia National Police to refrain from intervening, asserting that the matter should be handled by the EPS leadership.
“We will defend ourselves because it is our right to seek justice. Director Sam Gay needs to correct these wrongs, or else the situation will worsen,” Weah stated. He further alleged that the dismissals were politically motivated, adding that the officers had sought redress through the Legislature but to no avail, as the time given for a response has elapsed.
The former officers believe that the actions taken by the EPS are wrongful and undermine democratic principles, potentially setting the stage for chaos. They have called on the public and the Liberia Council of Churches to investigate the matter before it spirals out of control. “When our children are not in school, I don’t think their children will be in school,” Weah pointedly stated.
In their statements, the officers emphasized that their right to work should be restored by the EPS authority and warned against any actions that might provoke a negative response against the country. They have announced that they will wait until June 10 for further action, indicating their patience has limits as they underscored the urgency of their demands.
It can be recalled, during his confirmation hearing, the Presidential elite security guard, the Executive Protection Service (EPS) Director Designate Sam Gay, announced that the entity would experience rightsizing if confirmed by the Senate.
The Executive Protection Service (EPS) provides high-level protection for the President and other key officials. Sam Gay stated that the influx of officers and civilian employees at the EPS was overwhelming and financially challenging.
Col. Gay noted that many of the officers and employees were no longer needed at the entity. He told members of the Liberian Senate’s Committee on National Security and Veteran Affairs that during his leadership from 2016-2018, the EPS had about 400 officers. However, the number had swelled to over 900 officers under the Weah administration. According to him, the number is too high to protect only members of the executive, and downsizing is the ultimate option.
The potential protest by the downsized EPA officers highlights the broader challenges facing Liberia’s security sector and governance. The threat of a massive protest could strain the already fragile political stability in the country. Furthermore, the situation underscores the importance of transparent and fair labor practices, especially within government agencies tasked with national security.
The response from the government and international partners will be crucial in determining the resolution of this issue. The former officers’ demands for justice and reinstatement reflect broader societal expectations for accountability and fairness in public service employment.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen whether the government will take decisive action to address the grievances of the former EPA officers and prevent further escalation.
