130 Liberian borders vulnerable – Liberia news The New Dawn Liberia, premier resource for latest news

Liberia shares borders with multiple countries, including Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire which may have difficult terrains, dense forests, and remote areas.

By Kruah Thompson 

Monrovia, May 10, 2024: Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) Commissioner General Atty. Stephen J. H. Zargo says 130 of the country’s border points are vulnerable.

Out of the 176 border points in Liberia, Col. Zargo says only 46 are protected.

Addressing the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing in Monrovia on Thursday, 9 May 2024, the LIS chief said most of these vulnerable border points are in isolated areas across the country.

He reported that the LIS Delta Patrol Units are unable to reach these terrains.

Liberia shares borders with multiple countries, including Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire which may have difficult terrains, dense forests, and remote areas.

He stated the challenge of monitoring and controlling these areas, specifically making cross-border movements of people and goods difficult to detect.

He further complained about the difficulty in preventing illegal immigration, human trafficking, smuggling, and other illicit activities through these vulnerable border points.

Crucial amongst the many challenges the LIS faces in protecting borders across the country includes the lack of adequate manpower, equipment, and technology to effectively patrol and secure the extensive borders of Liberia.

The LIS Boss revealed that they are already in consultation with their international partners for help in addressing some of the issues.

The former Lofa County Senator indicated that they have requested, among other things, a drone, which will be deplored in these areas for border safety purposes to combat the illegal activities through these porous borders and significant cross-border issues in Liberia.

In another development, Col. Zargo has reported that the LIS Internal Audit Division has completed an audit of the activities and operations of the Human

Resource for the period 3 January to 30 April 2024. 

The goal of the audit is to assist the Management of Human Resources with the assessment of the adequacy of internal controls at the HR related to its overall operations.

“Additionally, the audit evaluated HR’s compliance with accounting, financial and administrative procedures, rules, regulations & laws as provided and

enacted by the Government of Liberia and Liberia Immigration Service,” he noted.

Besides that, he said they have conducted a headcount to authenticate personnel within the 15 counties along with the March 2024 payroll of the LIS, including in-depth reviews and analysis of documents. 

In closing, he noted that the field visits outline (2,388) personnel of the Liberia Immigration Service payroll as of March 2024.

“And from our field of work (148) personnel were not accounted for, while (2,137) accounted for,” he said.

According to him, 62 personnel were accounted for but were not assigned, while 27 are dead.

He continued that six LIS personnel travelled, four resigned, and four were absent without leave.

He said the issue of payroll was flagged during the HR audit.