But Former Speaker Koffa Caution Government
The Ministry of Health has imposed a sweeping nationwide ban on Tramadol and Shisha as part of an aggressive crackdown on Liberia’s spiraling drug epidemic.
Health Minister Dr. Louise M. Kpoto announced that beginning August 22, Tramadol use will be strictly confined to licensed hospitals under professional supervision, while Shisha is banned outright in all public and private spaces, including entertainment centers, bars, and homes.
Violators of the moratorium face immediate penalties, including arrest, license revocation, and seizure of banned products.
Why the Tough Stance?
Tramadol, a synthetic opioid, has become Liberia’s most abused drug, fueling addiction, violence, mental health decline, and widespread social instability. Shisha, often misperceived as harmless, carries dangerously high levels of nicotine and carcinogens that expose young Liberians to cancer, heart disease, and lifelong dependency.
“The abuse of these substances is destroying families, destabilizing communities, and threatening the future of Liberia’s youth,” the Ministry stated.
National Call to Action
The Health Ministry is urging doctors, pharmacists, parents, community leaders, and law enforcement officers to join forces in enforcing the ban and raising awareness.
“This is a decisive and non-negotiable step to save lives, protect our youth, and safeguard national stability,” Dr. Kpoto stressed, promising full government authority will back the moratorium.
Liberia now stands at a critical juncture, with the new measures seen as a defining step in the fight to protect its future from the grip of drug abuse.
Meanwhile, Liberia’s former House Speaker, Cllr. Johnathan Fonati Koffa has cautioned the government plan to ban shisha.
In an advice, Cllr. Koffa stated that the proposed shisha ban in Liberia is a well-intentioned policy, but Health authorities must be wise in their approach, cautioning that the Prohibition in the U.S. failed because it created a black market, empowering criminals rather than solving a problem.
“Let’s not repeat that mistake. A ban on a product with clear demand won’t work. Instead of going after users, we must go after the big fish—the importers and kingpins who profit from this trade. Let’s hit them where it hurts.” Former Speaker Koffa cautioned
