Gbarnga, Bong County — A resident of Gbarnga, John Kolleh, has publicly accused the Traffic Department of the Liberia National Police (LNP) in Bong County of inadequately handling the investigation into his son’s tragic death in a motorcycle accident in 2022. Mr. Kolleh staged a solo protest outside the LNP Bong County Headquarters on August 12, holding placards and calling for justice.
During the one-man protest, Kolleh expressed frustration over what he described as the authorities’ “lack of seriousness” in addressing his son Emmanuel Kolleh’s case. The accident, which involved police officers who were present at the scene, took place in August 2022. According to Mr. Kolleh, the investigations led by Bong County Traffic Commander Mr. Mamadee M. Kanneh and Officer Varfley V. Yamah were neither thorough nor satisfactory.
He stated that on several occasions, he had reached out to Bong County Police Commander Fasu V. Sheriff, who is currently suspended, as well as the Inspector General of Police, Col. Gregory Coleman, but received no response. He pledged to continue advocating for a comprehensive investigation into his son’s death and is also seeking benefits related to his son’s passing.
In response to the allegations, Bong County Traffic Commander Mr. Mamadee M. Kanneh and Regional Traffic Commander for Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties, Mr. Aaron Vesselee, defended the investigation’s integrity. They asserted that the investigation was conducted fairly and adhered to Section 9.4 of the traffic regulations.
The commanders provided details of the incident, indicating that Emmanuel Kolleh was attempting to overtake a truck near a police cone when he collided with another motorcycle. They report that both riders involved in the accident were subsequently charged, and the case was forwarded to court. However, while the other rider attended the court proceedings, Mr. Kolleh did not appear on behalf of his deceased son.
Furthermore, the officers mentioned that an independent investigation was conducted by the Traffic Commander of Nimba County, which yielded findings consistent with the original inquiry. They noted that Mr. Kolleh also failed to appear when the updated evidence was presented in court.
Mr. Kanneh and Mr. Vesselee emphasized that the police have fulfilled their legal duties in this case and urged that if Mr. Kolleh seeks further justice, the appropriate venue for resolution is the court. They characterized his allegations as unfounded and misleading, urging the public not to accept claims that could damage the reputation of the Traffic Department, while simultaneously encouraging cooperation with law enforcement during such incidents.
