[By Pewu Y. Sumo]
Monrovia – Renowned Liberian lawyer and Criminal Justice Expert Cllr. Taiwan S. Gongloe has blasted the government for not detaining accused Deputy Youth and Sports Minister J. Bryant McGill who has been accused of raping a minor.
Cllr. Gongloe in a statement today said Minister McGill should be in police cell because of the grave nature of the allegation, stressing that there should be no selective justice.
“I am so angry this morning to hear that Deputy Minister McGill, the man who was accused of raping a 14-year-old girl is passing up and down in the street,” Cllr. Gongloe blasted.
Citing Article 11(c) of the Liberian Constitution, Cllr. Gongloe said there should be equal protection for every Liberian.
“The same way you treat people from West Point or Soniwein when they are accused of crime is the same way you treat high officials of government,” Cllr. Gongloe said.
Cllr. Gongloe said all suspects of crime must be treated the same, noting that, “The situation of Deputy Minister McGill undermines the “R” in the “ARREST” agenda. It undermines the rule of law. I am calling on the police to immediately arrest Deputy Minister McGill. He should be former deputy Minister,” Cllr. Gongloe emphasized.
The former Solicitor General called on President Boakai to instruct the Police IG to fast track the arrest of Minister McGill in order to avoid disrespect for the police by the public.
“The whole country is watching. If this high official of government is not treated like other suspects of statutory rape, the next time police go somewhere to arrest someone who is not of the same status, the people will resist,” Cllr. Gongloe said.
Background
Deputy Minister for Youth Development at the Ministry of Youth and Sports J. Bryant McGill was accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl, the daughter of Christopher Davis, Deputy Chief of Security at the Ministry of Youth and Sports late last month. According to sources, the alleged assaults took place on August 27 and August 30, 2025, with Deputy Minister reportedly forcing the girl into his office, tearing her clothes, and threatening her life to ensure silence. The girl, who was staying with her aunt at the ministry for safety, went missing on August 30, prompting her father to report her disappearance. He later found her that night, and she disclosed the abuse.
But, following the stunning revelation, Head of Women and Children at the Liberia National Police ACP Susie T. Telleh provided an update on the matter.
“Fellow Liberians, we must pay attention to the update from the Liberia National Police regarding the rape allegations that surfaced since August 30th. This case has lingered for too long without a clear conclusion. Such delays raise serious concerns about how sensitive issues involving women and children are handled in our country.
We have seen cases of lesser importance resolved within days, yet a matter this grave remains pending. This raises a troubling question: would the same hesitation exist if the victim were the daughter of those in authority? Justice delayed is justice denied, and silence in this case puts more children at risk.
An innocent young girl has been left traumatized, and the people deserve transparency, accountability, and action. We cannot allow stories like this to be swept under the carpet. Where are the women’s rights advocates? Where are the voices that once stood firmly for other victims? The time to speak is now.
Liberia must not remain silent in the face of rape and abuse. Together, we must demand justice,” ACP Telleh said in her update on the matter.
Meanwhile, The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) on September 12, 2025 said in a statement that it has taken custody of the 14-year-old survival.
“The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) wishes to inform the public that it has officially taken custody of the 14-year-old survivor at the center of the recent rape allegation involving a Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Youth and Sports,” a statement from the Ministry said.
The statement furthered that the survivor was accompanied by her father to the Ministry, where she was received by the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Division. Following standard child protection procedures, the survivor has since been placed in a safe home, where she is currently receiving protective care and psychosocial support.
According to the MoGCSP, its action aligns with the Ministry’s mandate to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of all survivors of abuse, especially minors. A dedicated social worker has been assigned to provide continued support to the child throughout the ongoing investigative process.
The Ministry reiterates its zero-tolerance stance on all forms of Gender-Based Violence and remains committed to ensuring that survivors receive the care and justice they deserve.
Further updates will be provided as the situation develops, in close coordination with law enforcement and relevant child protection stakeholders, the Ministry said in a statement.
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