Thursday, March 28, 2024

2023 Liberian Election: Minister lauds ECOWAS, calls for control of small arms

Uba Group

Ahead of Liberia’s Presidential and Legislative elections in 2023, Jawarlah Tonpo, Liberia’s Deputy Minister, Press and Public Affairs, has urged security agencies in the country to redouble the efforts at containing the circulation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Tonpo made the call on Monday, in Monrovia, while delivering an address at the opening of a 5-day in-country training in Physical Security and Stockpile Management for state security personnel.

The address, made available to News Agency of Nigeria, stated the need for the message to be communicated to other countries in the ECOWAS Sub-region, including Nigeria, whose general elections is also scheduled for 2023.

Tonpo, who represented Liberia’s Minister of Information, Lederghood Rennie, at the event, was quoted as saying that President George Weah remained committed to securing lives and properties of citizens.

The drive, it said, birthed the training and retraining of security personnel in the country.

It stressed further that efforts should be directed towards ensuring adequate security within the ECOWAS sub-region in view of the political instabilities which, oftentimes, snowball into electoral violence.

“The training could not have come at a better time than now. As you assemble here today to begin this in-country training in Physical Security and Stockpile Management for state security personnel, you have made no mistake.

“I urge all teams to be up at their games, especially as the 2023 presidential and legislative elections beckons. As we draw closer to the 2023 legislative and presidential elections, there are visible early warning signs that your commission must not overlook.

“The government trusts you and your team’s ability to back up the effort of the security sector by making sure the illegal handling of small arms and light weapons are uncompromisingly dealt with.

“Your vigilance and restless pursuit of would-be trouble makers, illegally in possession of small arms, must not be taken lightly as you strive to make our society a safe and peaceful place.

“On behalf of the government of Liberia, special thanks to the German Federal Foreign Office for funding this training.

“Liberia will always remain grateful to ECOWAS and our international partners for their support. You have always stood by us and I need not refresh our minds regarding your role played during the dark days of Liberia’s history,” it read.

(NAN).

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