— As Joint Security Assures Maximum Security
IPNEWS: The Joint Security forces of Liberia have confirmed the deportation of Ghanaian, ICT wizard Sumson Essien Jr.
According to a statement from the government of Liberia, Essien, (no relations to football great Michael Essien) entered Liberia borders and engaged in employment without resident and work permits, in violation of Liberia’s Alien and Nationality Law and the Decent Work Act of 2015.
The law requires an alien travelling to Liberia must first obtain Resident and Work permits before engaging in employment activities in the country.
Sumson Essien Jr., Co Founder & CEO at Swift Ghana, is suspected of being hired by the opposition Unity Party in Liberia to undermine the credibility of the Tuesday’s November 14 runoff elections between inclubement President George Manneh Weah of the CDC and former vice president of Liberia Joseph N. Boakai of the Unity Party.
Esseien was arrested in Rivergee County after he was intercepted and interrogated by security officers about the nature of his work and required to produce his resident and work permits.
When he failed to produce the required permits, the government began the removal process and has since made arrangements with the Ghanaian Embassy near Monrovia to help reunite their compatriot with his family in Ghana.
While it is believed that Mr. Essien arrived in Liberia to do a contracted work, he should have exhausted the provisions of both labour and Immigration laws.
This action by Joint Security was taken in keeping with law and is void of any prejudice. It is rather intended to ensure that foreigners travelling to Liberia adhere to established procedures.
Alongside this, the Joint Security reassures the public that the November 14, 2023 elections will be held under a peaceful atmosphere.
Anyone who attempts to threaten the peace and stability of the state during the run-off election will be held liable and will face prosecution.
Meanwhile, five persons have been arrested and are under investigation in connection with violence that took place in Zorlay Town, District #3, Nimba County.
The Joint Security Special Investigative Team has been mandated by the Minister of Justice to expeditiously investigate the matter and ensure that those responsible for the violence resulting to injuries are made to face the full weight of the law.
The statement by the joint Security Forces, followed a warning by the opposition Unity Party on Friday, November 10, for the immediate release of Mr. Sumson Essien.
A statement issued late Friday, the Unity Party stated that it considers as utter disrespect, the deliberate refusal of the Liberia National Police to release Mr. Sumson Essien on the mandate of the Circuit Court sitting in Harper City, Maryland County following his arbitrary arrest and detention for over forty-eight (48) hours without formal charges.
Mr. Essien was arrested on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 while traveling from Maryland County to River Gee, where he had gone to train Unity Party Poll Watchers and Supervisors in the Southeastern region of Liberia.
Mr. Essien, Jr., a Ghanaian national was hired recently by the Unity Party as Lead consultant to train Party Poll Watchers on the use of an online application that enhances reporting election data in real time. While en route from Harper City to River Gee, Mr. Essien was stopped at the Webbo check point, where a police officer claimed the victim was under arrest on the orders of a “higher-up for planning to hack election materials for region five”.
In an effort to secure Mr. Essien release and his rights restored, the UP prayed the Circuit Court in Harper, Maryland County by filing a writ of habeas corpus to compel the release of its contractor, a writ which was granted by the Judge on Thursday, November 9, 2023. However, the police have deliberately refused to honor the court’s mandate. As of the time of this release, the whereabouts of Mr. Essien remains unknown and his safety in grave danger.
The Unity Party considers the action of the Liberia National Police as a flagrant disrespect to the rule of law and a demonstration of the return of the dark days where the basic fundamental human rights of innocent men and women are intentionally and deliberately violated with impunity.
The Unity Party demands the immediate release of Mr. Essien and seizes the moment to bring this grave and flagrant violation of Mr. Essien’s rights to the attention of all International Partners and Foreign Missions in Liberia. The constant deliberate refusal of the LNP under strict instruction from the Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue to release Sumson could lead to unspecified dire consequences as our supporters are running out of patience.
Mr. Essien is an innocent man and does not deserve to be maltreated because a certain political group fears the obvious reprisal from their citizens because of their failure to properly manage the affairs of the state after it was entrusted to them for the past six years.
