MONROVIA, Liberia — United States-based Councilman Rev. James D. Barclay has called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. to establish an independent investigative panel to probe Liberia’s ongoing cocaine cases.
In an open letter addressed to President Boakai, Barclay said the seriousness and sensitivity of the allegations require an investigation that is credible, impartial and insulated from political influence.
He cited concerns over what he described as claims of selective justice, abrupt arrests and suspensions during the government’s ongoing anti-drug campaign.
Barclay also pointed to allegations involving the Inspector General of Police, the Minister of Justice and individuals reportedly connected to the President’s inner circle and family.
According to the U.S.-based Liberian official, the arrest of members of the Liberia National Police has further heightened public concern and national anxiety over the handling of the case.
“Overlooking these visible concerns will not advance the image of good governance, accountability, or transparency,” Barclay said, warning that the situation could weaken public trust in Liberia’s justice institutions.
He said Liberians in the diaspora stand in solidarity with citizens at home in calling for an independent panel empowered to conduct a thorough, unbiased and transparent investigation.
Barclay, who serves as Councilman of Pleasantville City and First Vice Chairman of the National Board of Directors of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), said an independent probe would help restore public confidence and demonstrate Liberia’s commitment to the rule of law.
