By Amos Harris
Liberia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has been engulfed in scandal following confirmation that Deputy Minister for Youth Development, J. McGill Bryant, stands accused of raping a 14-year-old girl, the daughter of the Ministry’s Deputy Chief of Security.
The disturbing allegations first surfaced after journalists uncovered chilling audio recordings, including one in which the victim’s father details how his daughter was allegedly assaulted by the senior government official Minister Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu confirmed the claims late Wednesday, disclosing that the case has been formally turned over to the Liberia National Police (LNP) for investigation.
“Yes, we can confirm the report by Verity News. The case is now with the police. Investigation is ongoing.
At the Ministry under my watch, there is zero tolerance for unethical behavior, especially sexual misconduct. We are not taking this lightly.
Administrative action will be taken as soon as possible,” Bangalu told reporters.
The allegation has triggered widespread outrage, with rights advocates and civil society groups demanding Bryant’s immediate suspension pending the outcome of the probe.
Critics argue that keeping him in office undermines public trust and signals government complacency on an issue it has repeatedly labeled a national emergency.
Liberia’s government has long pledged a zero-tolerance stance against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), but the case is now seen as a critical test of that commitment.
Rape and child abuse remain rampant across the country, and many Liberians fear that such crimes are increasingly being normalized due to weak enforcement and political interference.
“This is not just about one case; it’s about whether powerful officials can continue to abuse children with impunity,” a women’s rights advocate told this paper.
“If the government fails to act swiftly and decisively, it will send the wrong message to survivors and embolden perpetrators.”
As public anger mounts, all eyes are now on the Liberia National Police and the Ministry of Justice to determine whether justice will truly be served in a country where accountability for sexual crimes against children has too often been elusive.
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