President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has announced the suspension of Bryant McGill, Deputy Minister for Youth Development at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, amid mounting allegations that he was involved in the rape of a 14-year-old girl. The victim is reported to be the daughter of the ministry’s Deputy Chief of Security.
The suspension follows days of public uproar after leaked audio recordings, widely circulated on social media, allegedly implicated McGill in the abuse. Though the recordings remain unverified, their content triggered nationwide outrage, with citizens demanding accountability and swift government action.
Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman confirmed that McGill is being questioned as part of an active investigation. He disclosed that the Liberia National Police has sought a court order for access to McGill’s call log and geo-location records, which are seen as key to substantiating the allegations. DNA sampling has also been ordered, with assistance requested from the U.S. Embassy for advanced testing.
President Boakai’s decision to suspend McGill is being interpreted as a strong signal of his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on sexual and gender-based violence. Officials emphasized that the suspension is necessary to ensure a fair and transparent investigation, free from potential interference.
For many Liberians, the case has become a litmus test for the nation’s justice system. Citizens say the outcome will determine whether the government is serious about protecting minors and delivering justice, or whether the matter will quietly fade away as others have in the past.
McGill will remain suspended pending the conclusion of the investigation. The coming days, observers say, will be crucial in determining whether justice is served and whether trust in public institutions can be restored.
