The Depths of Betrayal: J. Bryant McGill's Dark Legacy and Liberia's Failure to Act

Jerome Comlemm Saydee

By Jerome Comlemn Saydee

MONROVIA, Liberia — September 12, 2025 — As a young Liberian observing our country’s ongoing struggle with sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), I view J. Bryant McGill as a grim reminder of how low we've fallen.

McGill, the Deputy Minister for Youth Development in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has been accused of brutally raping a 14-year-old girl, the daughter of a ministry employee. His actions expose the terrifying reality of leaders who fail to protect the very individuals they are sworn to safeguard.

Listening to survivors' stories and witnessing the heartbreak of families in pain drives me to speak out against McGill's alleged crimes and the government’s disappointing failure to act. This situation represents not only one man’s shame but also a deep wound to our nation's integrity. A painful echo of unfulfilled promises and bright futures stolen away.

The accusations against McGill, filed on September 10, 2025, by the victim's father, Christopher Davis, a dedicated deputy chief of security, unveil a disturbing pattern of abuse. Reports describe how the girl, whose guardian sells food on ministry grounds just to make ends meet, was lured into McGill's office multiple times for the alleged assaults. The raw audio of the father's desperate plea for help resonates deeply, fueling anger across the nation.

This 14-year-old girl, filled with dreams and potential, now bears scars inflicted by the very man who should have protected her, a two-faced figure who merely two days prior, on September 8, 2025, spoke about youth empowerment at a peace forum.

To make matters worse, McGill is accused of misappropriating US$200,000 from a youth rehabilitation initiative in Lofa, funds intended to support at-risk teens while dismissing the outcry as mere falsehoods and claiming only $10,000 was spent. In a role designed to create better futures, McGill’s alleged actions of both violence and theft undermine the trust and opportunities of our youth. It pains me to think of this girl, her devastated family, and the countless young people he has let down.

Yet, McGill remains on the brink of authority, granted only a basic "leave of absence" pending a decision from President Joseph Boakai's office. This response reveals the government’s hesitance and biased approach to justice. I commend the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, led by Hon.

Gbeme Horace Kollie, for involving the police and providing essential support to the survivor. However, why is there a delay in permanently removing him from office, especially when youth voices and advocates are calling for it? This indecision undermines the 2020 zero-tolerance policy on SGBV, which rings hollow against the backdrop of 2,759 SGBV reports from January to October 2024, with barely 2% resulting in convictions.

The injustice is infuriating: in November 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Francis Sakila Nyumalin Sr. faced serious rape allegations, yet the response was sluggish and lacked decisive action, contrasting sharply with swifter reactions to less severe scandals while figures like McGill evade real consequences, discouraging potential witnesses.

This uneven playing field exposes the weaknesses of the cash-strapped Anti SGBV Roadmap, relying on foreign aid as local solutions falter, leaving victims isolated and unsupported. It threatens to undermine the progress made through EU UN Spotlight and UNDP efforts that equip courts and train personnel.

Dear fellow Liberians, in this tide of anguish, we young people must stand strong. President Boakai, remove McGill from his position today and initiate a thorough investigation. Let us transform this low point into an opportunity for progress, making the Rape Act of 2005 and the Domestic Violence Act of 2019 truly significant, rather than mere words.

For that courageous 14-year-old girl and every child in harm's way, justice cannot be delayed. It is essential for healing and rebuilding our society.

Jerome Comlemn Saydee is a concerned youth based in Monrovia, passionate about ending SGBV and advocating for meaningful change in Liberia.

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