A fourteen-year old raped victim, has pointed an accusing finger at one of government’s appointed deputy ministers at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The allegation sparks outrage tests country’s zero-tolerance policy, because the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has been engulfed in scandal.
The latest followed confirmation that the Deputy Minister for Youth Development, J. McGill Bryant, has reportedly raped a 14-year-old girl.
Unfortunately for Bryant, the victim is a daughter of the Ministry Deputy Chief of Security.
The disturbing allegations first surfaced after journalists uncovered chilling audio recordings, including one in which the victim father details how his daughter was allegedly assaulted by the senior government official.
Meanwhile, Minister Jeror Cole Bangalu, a lawyer by profession, confirmed the claims late Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
Bangalu disclosed that the case has been “formally turned over to authorities of the Liberia National Police (LNP) for investigation.”
It is also alleged that this not the first time Bryant’s has been accused of similar offense.
Bangalu: “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.”
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’s complacency on an issue it has repeatedly labeled a national emergency.
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 such crimes are increasingly being normalized due to weak enforcement and political interference.
“This is not just about one case; it is about whether powerful officials can continue to abuse children with impunity,” women’s rights advocate told this newspaper via cellphone.
“If the government fails to act swiftly and decisively, it will send a wrong message to survivors and embolden perpetrators.”
As public anger mounts, all eyes are now on the LNP and the Ministry of Justice to determine whether justice will truly be served in a country where accountability for sexual crimes against children have too often been elusive.