Monrovia, Liberia – A group operating under the name “Liberia Alcohol Policy Alliance” (LAPA) has released a Civil Society Shadow Report on the Framework for the implementation of the Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022-2030 in Liberia. The report calls for prioritizing alcohol harm prevention programs, increasing stakeholder awareness, and triggering coordination mechanisms.
Recently, about 30 Liberian Civil Society Organizations launched the CSO’s Shadow Report on the Implementation of the Framework for the implementing the Global Alcohol Action Plan (2022-2030), at the Archdiocesan Resources Center, St. Teresa’s Convent Compound.
The report is based on a three-day symposium that included government officials, public health experts, international partners, and a variety of civil society organizations. Reading the Report at the end of the three-day workshop, Madam Mattie G. R. Zeineddine, Chairperson of the group stated that the summary outlines the current status of alcohol control efforts in Liberia, focusing on partnerships, policy development, legislation, illicit alcohol, and measures to reduce alcohol acceptability, while highlighting key achievements, challenges, and actionable recommendations for stakeholders.
She stated that LAPA and the Ministry of Health (MoH) have been working together since 2019 to create and implement the National Alcohol Policy and Strategy 2023–2033, but since 2024, legislative changes have caused the pace of implementation to decrease.
The MoH will be able to activate the National Alcohol Control Board, Alcohol Secretariat, and Local Committee on Alcohol Control and hold frequent coordination meetings if the operationalization of coordination mechanisms is implemented, she revealed when presenting the report’s main recommendations.
Madam Zeineddine called for the creation and Implementation of National Alcohol Control Law: Gather resources to assist in the creation, evaluation, approval, and enactment of the National Alcohol Control Law. Boost the Gathering of Information: implementation of the National Alcohol Strategy’s Accessibility, Availability, Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation actions in order to gather and analyze data on alcohol manufactured illegally.
She also suggested raising public awareness, pointing out that important stakeholders should work to raise awareness and educate the public on the main components of the National Alcohol Policy and Strategy 2023–2033. Madam Zeineddine also encouraged the government to create, review, validate, adopt, implement, and design national alcohol legislation, as well as to give alcohol harm prevention top priority in its work program.
“Increase Budgetary Allocations: The Ministry of Finance in collaboration with MoH should make budgetary allocations to support the implementation of the National Alcohol Policy and Strategy 2023-2033. Provide Technical Assistance: WHO should provide technical assistance and other support to Moll, LAPA and other actors to effectively carry out their mandate including the implementation of the National Alcohol Policy and Strategy 2023-2033.Address Substance Use Disorder: The Gol needs to expand rehabilitation facilities across the country as SUDs cut across Liberia,” She urged.
In order to accelerate this process, she explained that LAPA is collaborating closely with the Ministry of Health’s recently established Mental Health Unit to increase political will and support for the implementation of policies.
“Although the Alcohol Technical Working Group was established as a multisectoral coordination structure with WHO’s assistance and support, its efficacy is being hampered by the lack of regular operational activity. Although a number of sectors, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and foreign partners are involved, the National Alcohol Policy and Strategy 2023-2033’s delayed implementation restricts the evaluation of its efficacy,” she said.
