By Godgift Harris
Residents and traditional leaders of Smith Town in Gbarpolu County have accused authorities at the Ministry of Justice for deliberately undermining a Supreme Court order.
The court’s order is linked to a long-running diamond dispute, triggering renewed concerns about respect for the rule of law, and political interference in natural resource governance.
According to community leaders, a mandate issued by the Supreme Court concerning the Smith Town diamond matter, has remained unenforced for an extended period, with no clear legal explanation from the Ministry.
The prolonged delay, residents alleged, suggests that vested interests within the justice system may be “obstructing the implementation of the Court’s decision for personal or political reasons.”
Community members warned that the Ministry’s alleged inaction amounts to open defiance of the highest court, a development they say, could severely erode public trust in the justice system.
“This delay has no legal explanation,” one local leader told this newspaper.
“When Supreme Court orders are ignored, it sends a dangerous message that justice can be negotiated or bought, those aware of the development have said.
At the center of the controversy are diamond resources in Smith Town, which residents say hold significant potential to drive local economic recovery if managed lawfully and transparently.
Community leaders argue that proceeds from legitimate diamond activities could be used to improve education, healthcare, and basic social services in Smith Town, and neighboring villages, many of which remain chronically underdeveloped.
Senior citizens and traditional authorities across Gbarpolu County have formally appealed to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to intervene, warning that continued delays could heighten local tensions and threaten peace in the area.
They also cautioned that the impasse risks damaging Gbarpolu County’s national and international image at a time when the country is seeking to project itself as a country governed by the rule of law and accountable institutions.
“The Ministry of Justice must do the needful in the interest of peace, unity, and respect for the Supreme Court,” county elders said in a joint statement.
“Anything short of that will only deepen mistrust and further harm the county’s reputation.”
As of publication, the Ministry of Justice has not publicly responded to the allegations.
However, residents insist they will continue to demand full compliance with the Supreme Court’s order, stressing that justice delayed is justice denied.
Many citizens have specifically called on the Minister and Attorney General N. Oswald Tweh, to act decisively in the interest of the people of Gbarpolu County and the nation at large, warning that continued silence or inaction could further undermine confidence in Liberia’s justice system.