Ottawa, Canada – Liberian human rights activist Stanley Delano Quaye, currently based in Canada, has accused the Government of Liberia and the Liberia National Police (LNP) of deliberately shielding Deputy Minister for Youth Development at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Bryant McGill, from facing justice over allegations that he raped a 14-year-old girl.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
The incident, which has sparked public outcry in Liberia and among the diaspora, allegedly involves the daughter of the Ministry’s Deputy Chief of Security. In response to growing pressure from activists and civil society organizations, President Joseph Boakai last week suspended Deputy Minister McGill.
“This decision has been taken in line with the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and to ensure a fair and transparent investigation. Deputy Minister McGill will remain suspended until the conclusion of the investigation,” the Executive Mansion said in a statement.
Despite the suspension, no arrest has been made. The LNP, which has been investigating the matter since early September, maintains that it is still collecting forensic and corroborative evidence. A medical report obtained by the victim’s family reportedly confirms that the girl was sexually violated.
Addressing journalists in Monrovia, Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman said the investigation is ongoing and cautioned the public against rushing to judgment.
“Unlike other cases, this one will be treated with delicacy,” Coleman said. “We cannot make an arrest without sufficient evidence. We are ensuring we satisfy all parameters before taking action.”
But activist Quaye, speaking at a press conference in Orleans, a suburb of Ottawa, dismissed the government’s position as a “cover-up,” and accused both the President and police of colluding to delay justice.
“That is a reluctant suspension of McGill; it is a mere suspension that does not amount to accountability,” Quaye said. “The President only suspended McGill because of pressure from the public and the human rights community. That is not accountability.”
Quaye further claimed that close personal ties between McGill, President Boakai, and Police Inspector General Coleman are compromising the integrity of the investigation.
“They are pretending as if there’s no sufficient evidence to arrest and charge McGill with rape,” Quaye alleged. “That’s why they’re working very hard to compromise the case behind the scenes.”
He accused the police of deliberately manipulating the legal process to shield McGill from prosecution and warned that the delay in justice risks undermining public trust in the government’s stance on sexual and gender-based violence.
Quaye has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Liberian government to arrest and charge Deputy Minister McGill or face mass protests organized by members of the diaspora and rights groups.
As of press time, neither the Government of Liberia nor the Liberia National Police has responded to Quaye’s allegations.
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