The government of Liberia (GOL) through the Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection has permanently revoked the accreditation of American for African Adoptions (AFAA), following an investigation into allegations of rape and child endangerment involving 30 children at its orphanage.
In a letter dated February 19, 2024, addressed to AFAA Country Director Oretha James, the Minister of Gender Gbene Horace-Kollie cited findings from the Liberia National Police and legal opinions from the Ministry of Justice as the basis for the decision.
The ministry had initially accredited AFAA, also known as Cradle of Hope, on May 4, 2023, to operate an adoption facility in Liberia. However, in December 2023, the organization was suspended from all adoption-related activities pending an investigation into serious allegations of abuse. Upon conclusion of the probe, police recommended prosecution for several AFAA officials, including Elizabeth Gotta, Philip Garmai Galima, Felecia Brooks, and others. The Ministry of Justice indicted additional officials, including James and Cheryl Carter-Schofts.
Given the indictments and ongoing prosecutions, the government determined that it was no longer in the best interest of Liberian children for AFAA to operate within the country. The ministry also imposed a permanent ban on Carter-Schofts, prohibiting her from engaging in any adoption, childcare, or orphanage-related activities in Liberia, except in the event of acquittal by the courts. A similar ban was placed on James, Gotta, Galima, Brooks, and others pending their legal outcomes.
The ministry further clarified that orphans whose pre-adoptive parents had completed their home study process would be allowed to finalize their adoption through private legal channels. Meanwhile, children without pre-adoptive parents will either be reunited with their biological families or placed in government safe homes.
