Monrovia — Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe, Assistant Professor of Law at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, has called on the Liberian government to launch a comprehensive and impartial investigation into several unresolved deaths that have sparked widespread suspicion.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
Gongloe praised President Joseph Boakai for his commitment to investigating unexplained deaths in Liberia. However, he stressed that the inquiry must be inclusive and transparent, addressing all cases without bias.
Gongloe pointed out the omission of prominent cases, including the deaths of Harry Greaves Jr. and Michael Alison, from the current list of investigations. He specifically highlighted the mysterious deaths of Melvin Earley, a former officer of the Executive Protection Service (EPS), and Sgt. Bobby Manndeh, a soldier with the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), both of which involved suspicious circumstances. Earley allegedly died by suicide in February 2021, and Manndeh reportedly took his life in 2024 under similarly questionable conditions.
Gongloe warned that failing to investigate these cases could create the perception of political bias, potentially undermining public confidence in the government’s commitment to justice.
He emphasized that an honest search for the truth must be inclusive of all suspicious deaths, regardless of the administration in power at the time.
“An honest search for the truth cannot be selective,” Gongloe stated. “Allowing certain incidents to remain uninvestigated risks creating the perception of political bias, which in turn erodes public confidence in our institutions. The Liberian people deserve to know the facts behind all suspicious deaths — past or present.”
Gongloe also stressed the importance of restoring public trust in Liberia’s institutions, noting that the country is at a critical juncture where citizens are demanding greater transparency and accountability from their leaders.
He called for the investigation to be expanded to include all unresolved deaths, in order to demonstrate that the rule of law is paramount and applies equally to all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.
“If our leaders are serious about preventing a recurrence of such tragedies, they must confront past wrongs and demonstrate that the rule of law is greater than any party or administration,” Gongloe concluded. “That is the essence of true leadership.”
