As a way to safeguard Liberia’s coastal and wetland environments, as well as security and revenue collection, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has issued three Executive Order Nos. 141, 142 and 143. The last Executive Order aims at establishing a Taskforce Against the Encroachment on Beachfronts, Waterways, and Wetlands. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to protecting Liberia’s natural resources, mitigating environmental degradation, and ensuring public health and economic sustainability. With growing concerns over pollution, erosion, and climate change, the Executive Order seeks to curb harmful activities that threaten marine and terrestrial ecosystems. President Boakai emphasized that the unchecked encroachment and pollution of wetlands, waterways, and beachfronts pose significant risks to both the environment and the livelihoods of Liberians. The newly formed Taskforce, chaired by the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and co-chaired by the Chairman of the Liberia Land Authority, comprises key government stakeholders, including the Ministers of Justice, Internal Affairs, Public Works, Mines and Energy, and Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism, as well as representatives from the Liberia National Police and local municipal authorities. Under its Terms of Reference (TOR), the Taskforce will:
- Halt the degradation and backfilling of wetlands, waterways, and beachfronts;
- Implement restoration measures for affected areas;
- Enforce wetlands regulations in collaboration with the EPA;
- Support local authorities in managing conservation efforts;
- Report and document violations, ensuring legal action against offenders;
- Raise public awareness on the environmental and economic benefits of preserving these ecosystems;
- Monitor and evaluate conservation programs; and
- Prevent the use of non-eco-friendly pesticides.
Liberia’s signing of the Ramsar Convention in 2003 reaffirmed its commitment to wetland conservation, and this Executive Order builds upon that foundation by strengthening enforcement mechanisms. The Taskforce will work closely with the National Climate Change Steering Committee to ensure coordinated action and sustainable environmental management. President Boakai has directed the immediate implementation of this Executive Order, reinforcing Liberia’s leadership in environmental governance and climate resilience. The President calls on all citizens, businesses, and local communities to support this effort to protect the nation’s natural heritage for future generations. President Boakai also issued Executive Order No. 142, which suspends the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on international travel services and replaces it with a fixed levy on airline tickets for passengers departing Liberia. The decision comes as part of the Government’s commitment to strengthening revenue mobilization while addressing the persistent challenges associated with the collection of GST on airline tickets, particularly those purchased online. The new measure aims to minimize revenue leakages, ensure a more transparent and efficient collection process, and sustain economic growth. Key Provisions of Executive Order No. 142:
- Suspension of GST: The 10% GST previously imposed on the sale of international transport services (air, sea, and land), as well as services of travel agencies and ticket issuances, is hereby suspended.
- Introduction of Fixed Fees: A flat levy will now be imposed on each ticket sold for international travel, with details to be determined by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) in consultation with the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA).
- Collection and Remittance: Airlines, travel agencies, and other ticketing entities must collect the levy at the point of sale and remit proceeds to the LRA as per prescribed regulations.
- Enforcement and Compliance: The MFDP and LRA are mandated to ensure full implementation, with penalties for non-compliance under existing laws.
- Reporting: The LRA will submit regular reports on revenue performance to the MFDP to ensure transparency and accountability.
- Duration: The Order takes immediate effect and remains in force until further executive or legislative action. President Boakai reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to sound financial governance and ensuring that government revenues are effectively managed for national development. He called on all stakeholders to cooperate in implementing this new measure for the collective benefit of the country’s economy. President Boakai further issued Executive Order #141, mandating the registration of all firearms in civilian possession. This order comes in response to the growing national security threats posed by illicit firearms, including military-style weapons, which have contributed to rising incidents of armed violence, including armed robberies and other criminal activities. The proliferation of unregulated small arms poses significant risks to Liberia’s peace, security, and economic development. Under Executive Order #141, all individuals in possession of military-style weapons and single-barrel guns must register and obtain a permit and license from the Liberia National Commission on Arms (LiNCA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) within a 12-month period from the effective date of this order.
Key provisions of the Executive Order include:
- Mandatory registration of civilian-owned firearms following national firearms regulations.
- Marking and recording of registered firearms in the national database to enhance traceability.
- Voluntary surrender of illicit and unauthorized firearms, including craft weapons and military-style arms, to LiNCA for processing and potential registration.
- Legal consequences for non-compliance, including administrative sanctions and criminal prosecution after the stipulated registration period. This order aligns with Liberia’s commitments under international and regional arms control agreements, including the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty and the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons. The Government has also made significant strides in securing state-owned weapons through enhanced marking, inspection, and stockpile management. The Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with LiNCA, will oversee the enforcement of the Executive Order, working closely with county and district authorities to ensure full compliance. Additionally, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, alongside development partners, is expected to support the operational plan for implementation. This Executive Order takes immediate effect. The Government urges all firearm holders to comply within the specified timeframe to contribute to a safer and more secure Liberia.
It is recalled that during the regime of former President George Manneh Weah, he cautioned Liberians to be their own security thus urging government officials and ordinary citizens to buy and install CCTV camera in their various homes for security protection. Former President Weah made this pronouncement during the signing of the book of condolence for former Internal Audit Agency (IAA) head, Emmanuel B. Nyeswa, when he disclosed that though his government would endeavor to provide security at the borders or other entry points to avoid external threats, while the government would ensure the safety at points of entry, it was time for each and every Liberian to be their brother’s keeper. According to the Liberian leader, too many mysterious deaths of several Liberians including key government officials at the time served as a wakeup call to the citizenry, indicating that officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) would not be everywhere to protect every Liberians; as such, Liberians could then begin to ensure that they be the first respondents in protecting their own lives. He added, “I am worried about our citizens because we do not know what actually happens at night but we hope that our citizens will also take responsibility of their own lives, surroundings and what they are doing. Our own responsibility as a government is to ensure that we have the police and other security apparatus make sure that no one infiltrates our country and do acts that don’t make any sense.” “We do not want to hold anybody responsible for what they do in their own life but I think everybody, should be their brother’s keeper because its important and it’s also time that every government officials and citizens try to have their own video camera in facilities to see who’s coming in and out because I believe it will be a good security protection,” Weah cautioned. However, following the statement of former President Weah at the time, many Liberians including political pundits had different views when some said he spoke in the right direction amidst the mysterious killings , while others criticized him, terming his statement as rather unfortunate and frustrating. Some political pundits further stated that Weah’s statement also contradicted the social contract he signed with the Liberian people upon his ascendency to the Presidency thereby taking over from former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2018, aimed at protecting the lives and properties of all Liberians within the territorial borders of the country. In a rather perplexed mood, a Liberian criminal lawyer and legal practitioner, Cllr. Arthur Johnson, on the Truth FM “What’s Your View” night time program said it was time for the President and his Information Ministry to come and clarify this ambiguous statement as it was disappointing and embarrassing to the country’s highest seat (the presidency). He stressed that the statement by the then Liberian leader was dangerous to the peace and security of the nation and had the propensity to create a state of insecurity and therefore urged the Minister of Information, Ledgerhood Rennie to hastily interpret the President’s statement in order to avoid any unwarranted mob justice and secret killings in the name of criminality. “So I want to state that the clarification is now required because any statement the President makes becomes a policy statement, because whenever the President goes anywhere and makes a statement, it automatically becomes a policy statement, so when it is understood in the public by people in different context, there is tendency for people to be confused about it and at the end of the day, we find ourselves in a state of chaos which no one would claim responsibility for,” Cllr. Johnson averred.
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