In a groundbreaking move, Liberian Foreign Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, has taken a stand against the rampant sale of Liberian diplomatic passports. During a major press conference held yesterday, Minister Nyanti called upon all holders of Liberian diplomatic passports to voluntarily surrender them. The minister emphasized the urgent need to rectify the country’s flawed record-keeping system regarding individuals in possession of these important documents.
However, questions arise as to whether this action by the foreign minister is a genuine attempt to remove Liberian passports from the hands of criminals or merely a charade. Recent revelations have brought to light a shocking truth – Liberian diplomatic passports are being sold to non-Liberians by corrupt officials within the Liberian Foreign Ministry.
A former passport director had earlier exposed this scandal. He disclosed that foreign ministry officials have been engaging in the illicit practice of selling passports to criminals and individuals who are not entitled to hold them. Disturbingly, some of these criminals and ring leaders still hold high-ranking positions within the ministry, and to add to the concern, some were recently reappointed by President Josoeh Boakai.
Many observers had hoped President Boakai would take decisive action to clean up the foreign ministry and replace those involved in the illicit sale of passports. Instead, the reappointment of individuals who have been implicated in this scandal raises questions about the government’s commitment to tackling this issue head-on.
The Liberian people deserve transparency and accountability in matters of national security. It is imperative that President Boakai takes immediate action to address these deep-rooted issues within the foreign ministry. The sale of Liberian diplomatic passports to criminals and non-Liberians undermines the integrity of the nation’s passport system and poses a serious threat to national security.
As this story unfolds, it is crucial for the international community to closely monitor the actions taken by the Liberian government. The people of Liberia deserve a foreign ministry that upholds the highest standards of integrity and ensures the protection of their national interests.