With heart full of joy, I am profoundly grateful and fully appreciative to the President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency, Dr. George M. Weah for my preferment as Commissioner of the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms (LiNCSA). By extension, I am grateful to all of my professional colleagues who shared with me my happiness and the opportunity to serve my country in this tedious but rewarding position.

Many Liberians like me are aware of the disastrous effect of Small Arms and Light Weapons, not just in Liberia but the African Region as a whole. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia estimated in its report that Two Hundred Fifty Thousand (250,000) people lost their precious lives during the Liberian Civil War. It is no doubt that Small Arms and Light Weapons were hugely used by armed combatants and the negative outcome of these weapons are still alive in the minds of people today.

Small Arms and Light Weapons didn’t just cause massive destruction in Liberia but the vast proliferation and illegal circulation of them, especially in the wrong hands still remain a major threat in the Country.

This is why, giving the illicit circulation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the African Region, I would like to personally Commend ECOWAS Member States for the insightful thought of putting in place structure to control, regulate and vehemently prevent the criminal flows of arms in and around the continent of Africa.

I am particularly thankful to the past administration of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for adhering to provisions of the ECOWAS Convention for the establishment of a Small Arms Commission in Liberia to help combat the illegitimate flows of small Arms and Light Weapons.

Also in like manner, I recognize the enormous contributions of local and international partners, such as ECOWAS, United Nation Development Programme, International Committee of the Red Cross, Armed Trade Treaty, Voluntary Trust Fund, British Embassy in Liberia, Liberia Action Network on Small Arms, Regional Center for Small Arms, The European Union, The German Government, The Technical Committee on Small Arms comprising of all National Security Agencies in Liberia for their tireless efforts in supporting the vision of Small Arms Commission of Liberia.

Equally as Commissioner of the Small Arms Commission, I support the vision of our illustrious partners both locally and internationally to rid the illicit possession of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Liberia and across its borders.

More besides, I commit myself to the vision of the Chairman of the Small Arms Commission, Atty. T. Maxwell Grigsby II, and all the hard-working staff for their significant role in the fight against illicit flow of small arms in Africa, particularly Liberia.

As a Criminal Justice practitioner, with emphasis in Police Administration, I come to the Commission with the believe that professionalism, transparency, accountability, objectivity and integrity will be the hallmark as we execute our national obligations.

May God bless our nation and grant us the wisdom to lead!