MONROVIA – In a pointed commentary on Friday, October 31, 2025, Anderson D. Miamen, Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), issued a sharp warning over the persistent vulnerabilities surrounding Liberia’s passport system. His message, posted on his official Facebook page under the title “More Criminals Will Now Seek to Acquire Liberian Passport, Government Must Act to Enhance Its Security and Integrity,” has intensified public debate about Liberia’s longstanding passport scandal.
Miamen noted that Liberia’s passport, ordinary, diplomatic, and service, has been repeatedly compromised over the years, ending up in the possession of economic migrants, drug traffickers, and other criminal actors. He cited troubling cases where Liberian passports surfaced in criminal investigations abroad, including arrests in the United States.
His commentary also recalled the high-profile scandal involving Andrew Wonploe, former Director of Passport at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who was dismissed and later sanctioned by the U.S. Government for significant corruption and passport fraud. His designation marked one of the most serious diplomatic embarrassments Liberia has faced in recent years and exposed systemic weaknesses in the passport issuance process.
Miamen said Liberia’s vulnerabilities pose an even greater threat now that the United States has extended visa durations for Liberian nationals from one year to three years. While he welcomed the development, he warned that such privilege comes with heightened responsibility. “To avoid reversal of the decision and other negative consequences, Liberia needs to introduce additional tougher measures to enhance the safety and security of our Passport,” he wrote.
He cautioned that unless immediate action is taken, “more criminals will now seek to acquire Liberian passports,” placing Liberia at risk of a major diplomatic setback. He urged the government to ensure passports do not continue falling “into the hands of wrong persons, including hardcore criminals and fraudsters.”
Miamen stressed that safeguards must be significantly tightened, from technology and monitoring systems to processing, verification, and delivery mechanisms. He warned that Liberia could lose the benefits of the new U.S. visa policy if reforms are delayed. “While we celebrate this very excellent news and commend government for achieving this milestone, we risk forfeiting the opportunity if we do not do enough to guide against its abuse,” he noted.
The CENTAL boss emphasized that the government must act swiftly. “Within one or two weeks,” he said, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should announce new and tougher measures to “Protect and Secure our Passports,” underscoring that seriousness must be demonstrated both to Liberians and to international partners.
Miamen’s concerns echo a broader history of Liberia’s passport controversies. Previous investigations by civil society organizations have revealed loopholes that allowed diplomatic passports to be issued to non-Liberians and individuals with questionable backgrounds. The scandals triggered international scrutiny and raised questions over Liberia’s identity management systems.
With the U.S. visa extension now viewed as both a diplomatic victory and a test of Liberia’s credibility, Miamen’s warning has placed renewed pressure on the Boakai administration to act decisively. His message underscores the reality that Liberian passports are not just travel documents but instruments of national integrity, and their misuse carries far-reaching consequences.
