MONROVIA, Montserrado – Gregory Coleman, inspector general of the Liberia National Police, has apologized to residents within the Monrovia metropolitan area for the blunder caused by allowing Liberty Party to mount a stage on Tubman Boulevard during its campaign launch on Saturday, September 9.

Speaking on ELBC Radio on Monday in the wake of criticisms from the public, Coleman said Liberty Party should not have been allowed to build a stage in the middle of Tubman Boulevard during its campaign launch.

He explained that following a meeting with Ben Sanvee, chairman of the party, it was agreed that the stage is mounted close to the party headquarter.

However, Coleman said, “officers only realized the next morning at 5 a.m. that a stage was mounted in the middle of the road, contrary to what was agreed.” He said the situation “caused serious inconveniences for the general public.”

Coleman added that the police was then forced to establish roadblocks around the already mounted stage, adding that the officers on the scene “managed the situation peacefully and documented the party’s action.”

Abraham Kromah, deputy director of operations at the LNP, who arrived shortly following the deployment of officers at the site, was seen enquiring from junior officers about the situation.

Abraham Kromah, deputy director of operations for the Liberia National Police, asks an officer about the situation. Photo: Zeze Ballah

While Kromah was in communication with senior officers and also questioning junior officers, Coleman arrived on the scene, flanked by several other officers.

Coleman, while communicating on his mobile phone, immediately walked towards the barricaded link and in a few seconds, Sanvee arrived.

Sanvee was seen explaining and gesturing towards the mounted stage while Coleman and other officers listened attentively.

The expressions on the faces of both Kromah and Coleman suggested their displeasure and that something had gone wrong.

Ben Sanvee, chairman of Liberty Party, in a chat with Gregory Coleman, inspector general of the Liberia National Police. Photo: Zeze Ballah

As hundreds of Liberty Party supporters who defied the rain turned out to grace the occasion, vehicles and pedestrians could not move about freely.

Motorists had to detour through Old Road, from the Nigeria house and Catholic Hospital junctions.

Ambulances transporting patients to the hospital also found it difficult passing through the huge crowd.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah