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Monrovia, Liberia — September 19, 2025: The Board of Directors of the Faith and Justice Network is deeply alarmed and gravely concerned by the credible allegations of statutory rape leveled against Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Bryant McGill.
Let us be explicit. Rape is defined under section 14.70 and 14.71 of the New Penal Code, Chapter 14, as amended December 29, 2005. Statutory rape, is a non-bailable criminal offense under Liberian law. Rape results in serious bodily injury or permanent disfigurement or disability. It is a crime not only against the individual survivor but also against the state and the moral conscience of our nation.
Therefore, the suspension of Mr. McGill by the President of the Republic, H. E. Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. is at best, an inadequate and misleading gesture. It sends a dangerous message that the political elite may be shielded from immediate legal accountability, even in cases of serious criminal allegations involving minors.
Furthermore, the recent appointment of an Acting Deputy Minister, Mr. F. Alphonso Y. Belleh, by the President—without any clear and public commitment to the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr. Bryant McGill is unacceptable and deeply troubling.
Such an administrative maneuver, in the face of serious criminal allegations involving statutory rape, risks sending the message that political continuity is being prioritized over justice, accountability, and the protection of vulnerable citizens. This is a dangerous precedent.
The government cannot be seen to simply reshuffle personnel while failing to uphold the law. The Liberian people—especially survivors of sexual violence—deserve to see action, not optics. Justice must not be sidelined for political expediency. This is unacceptable.
We remind the public and state actors that justice delayed is justice denied. The accused must be immediately arrested and processed through the criminal justice system—without delay, without interference, and without political negotiation. The rule of law must prevail.
The law must be applied impartially without fear or favor. We cannot continue to preach the virtues of justice and accountability while selectively enforcing them based on status, office, or proximity
to power. To do so is to betray the very foundations of our democratic society and erode the trust of the people.
As a faith-based organization committed to justice, equity, and human dignity, the Faith and Justice Network demands the following:
1. Immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr. Bryant McGill in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Liberia.
2. Full protection and support for the survivor and their family, including access to psychosocial care and legal representation.
3. An independent investigation into any attempts to obstruct justice or shield the accused from prosecution.
4. The President of Liberia, H. E. Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. is called upon to demonstrate leadership by ensuring that this case is not politicized or swept under the rug.
5. Civil society, women’s rights organizations, and the Liberian people to remain vigilant and demand full accountability.
We, the people of faith stand in firm solidarity with survivors of sexual violence and call on all justice actors, especially the Liberia National Police, the Ministry of Justice, and the Judiciary to act with integrity, urgency, and independence.
As a nation that has struggled and sacrificed for peace, justice, and the protection of the vulnerable, we cannot afford to normalize impunity—especially in cases involving our children and youth.
There can be no healing, no peace, and no trust in governance where impunity for rape is allowed to flourish. The people of Liberia and especially its young girls deserve better.
Justice must prevail. The integrity of our institutions—and the trust of our people—depends on it.
SIGNED:
Rev. Tolbert Thomas Jallah, Jr.
Regional Executive Director
Faith and Justice Network
