By Augustine B. Kollie
augustinekollie87@yahoo.com
Monrovia-The President of the Liberia Council of Churches, Bishop Kortu K. Brown has described the fight against illicit drugs a national emergency.
Bishop Brown, also General Overseer of the New Water in the Desert Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Brewerville, told reporters in Monrovia at the weekend that he foresees a bleak feature for Liberia if the fight against narcotic drugs is not given a major priority.
The Religious Cleric stressed the need for every citizen to give huge support to para-military institutions like the Drugs Enforcement Agency and the Liberia National Police as well as other civil society working groups that are fronting this fight.
Bishop Brown said the Drugs Enforcement Agency must identify and bring to book illicit drug traffickers and prominent individuals caught shielding them.
The LCC President noted that drug users are invading the country and destroying the future of the next generation and making people ineffective and if nothing is done, Liberia could suffer setback.
He said there is an urgent need for the Legislative branch of the Liberian Government to make drug abuse or sale a non-billable offence under the law, noting that effective law enforcement, incarceration, tough punishment and repression will ensure a significant cut down on demand and harm caused by illicit drugs in the country.
Bishop Brown urged the Churches, communities, families and all citizens to join the fight against drug abuse and addiction, noting that if the number of drug users oversees the number of educated people, it might become a major challenge for Liberia.
He made the assertions at a General Evangelism Workshop, held at the New Covent Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Gardnersville under the auspices of the Monrovia district of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church.
