By Archie Boan
Amid public outrage, calls for the Government of President Joseph Boakai to take tougher measures against the Deputy Minister for Youth Development, Mr. J. Bryant McGill, are heightening.
In an official statement released by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, McGill claimed to have requested a ‘Leave of Absence,’ but some public officials and activists say it’s not enough for the gravity of the alleged crime committed.
Even though the Ministry of Gender still remains tight-lipped, Voices of Protest are beginning to rise in demand for tougher actions including dismissal and prosecution:
“Rape is evil. Immediate sacking and prosecution of that Deputy Youth & Sports Minister.” Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, Montserrado County
“As the supervising Minister for Child Labor Division at the Ministry of Labor, we like to state categorically our disapproval of any form of abuse against a child. The alleged rape case involving a Deputy Minister of Government and a14 year old must be speedily investigated to establish guilt or not. We trust that the President who has zero tolerance for violence against women and children will take provisional steps while the investigation goes on.” Min. Emmanuel K. Barnes, Assistant Minister for Planning and Manpower, Ministry of Labor
“A 14 year old girl is a minor and the Deputy Minister for Youth Development at the Ministry of Youth and Sports should be sacked, arrested and jailed. Do not compromise rape.” Ms. Vickjune Headliner Wutoh, Gender Equality Activist
“Yes! We need J Bryant Mcgill to be sent to court. A Deputy Minister for Youth Development should never use his power to abuse a 14-year-old girl. In 2024, Liberia recorded 2,759 GBV cases and this year the numbers are increasing as public officials are even the perpetrators of rape. This is sad! The recording is troubling—you even went to the family to apologize after allegedly rapping this 14-year-old girl.” Mr. Titus B. Pakalah, Rights Activist
This is a development story.
