A shocking video of a Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) official, K. Massayan Sorsor, assaulting an elderly man has ignited widespread condemnation and calls for his immediate dismissal and prosecution.
The footage, exposed by activist Martin K. N. Kollie on Saturday, March 22, 2025, shows Sorsor physically attacking an old man identified as Pa Gayflor, an act many Liberians are calling a blatant abuse of power.
In the video, Sorsor is heard boasting, “Let him go to court. I don’t care,” as he repeatedly slaps the defenseless elderly man. According to Pa Gayflor’s family, Sorsor further bragged that his wealth and influence would shield him from any consequences. If true, this incident underscores the deep-rooted arrogance and impunity that plague Liberia’s governance system, where officials believe they are above the law.
Kollie, a fierce advocate for social justice, immediately called for Sorsor’s dismissal and prosecution, emphasizing that this is not the Liberia citizens fought to reform. He decried the assault as “a brazen abuse of power” and declared that no public official should be allowed to mistreat ordinary citizens with such reckless disregard for human dignity. Kollie also announced that a team of lawyers, led by Cllr. Massaquoi Jonathan, has been hired to take legal action against Sorsor, vowing that justice must be served.
Beyond the physical assault, what makes this case even more disturbing is the revelation that after slapping the old man, Sorsor allegedly took him to court and even managed to have his son, Aaron Gayflor Jr., imprisoned at South Beach Prison. This raises serious concerns about the abuse of state institutions to intimidate and silence victims. Instead of facing consequences for his violent actions, Sorsor reportedly used the judicial system as a weapon to further oppress his victim’s family.
The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, in a press release signed by its Director of Communications, Patience Senkpeni Kumeh, acknowledged the existence of the video but attempted to downplay the incident by stating that it occurred last year and is already before the court. The Ministry further stated that its Legal and Human Resources Units are “reviewing all internal policies” regarding the matter. However, this response has only fueled more criticism, as many see it as an attempt to evade immediate accountability.
Activist Kollie swiftly dismissed the Ministry’s statement, arguing that claiming to be “reviewing policies since last year” is a weak and delayed response. He insisted that Sorsor must be suspended or dismissed immediately, as allowing him to remain in his position sends a dangerous message that public officials can assault ordinary citizens without consequences.
This case has now gained international attention, with Kollie confirming that he has sent official complaints to the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, the U.S. State Department, the European Union, ECOWAS, the African Union, and several other global and local organizations, including the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and Transparency International. The move is aimed at ensuring that the government is pressured to act decisively.
Liberians are left wondering: If a public official can publicly slap an elderly man and boast about his power to escape justice, what does this say about President Joseph Boakai’s administration’s commitment to human rights and accountability? The silence from high-ranking officials, including Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan, is deafening. If the Boakai-led government fails to act swiftly, it risks being seen as complicit in protecting officials who engage in violence and abuse their authority.
