Though there is no indication that Vice President Koung was aware of George’s forged background, the incident raises pressing concerns about institutional oversight in politically connected spaces.
Monrovia – For years, Dr. Peter Matthew George lived what appeared to be the dream of any medical professional in Liberia. He led the Liberia Medical and Dental Association (LMDA) as its president and held the prominent position of Chief Medical Officer at the Esther and Jereline Koung Medical Center, a private hospital founded by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung in Ganta, Nimba County.
But the dream has now unraveled.
The Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) has revoked George’s license to practice medicine, following revelations that his academic credentials were forged.
This development has sparked a wave of concern within Liberia’s health sector and raised questions about how a man with fraudulent qualifications rose to such a high-profile post within a facility linked to the country’s second-highest office.
A web of deception
It began with routine credential verification. The LMDC requested George’s academic records for audit, as part of a wider review in collaboration with international partners including the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) in the United States and DataFlow in the United Arab Emirates.
George submitted a degree verification letter from the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. But according to Dr. Augustus Quiah, Registrar General of the LMDC, the letter was fake, and the university confirmed that it had not yet launched any medical programs.
“The University of Hertfordshire confirmed he was never a student. Their medical school isn’t expected to graduate students until 2031,” Dr. Quiah explained. The LMDC also found no proof of George’s claimed studies at the University of Central Nicaragua or the University of Sierra Leone.
The fallout
Following the LMDC’s findings, the LMDA acted swiftly. On May 5, it announced that George had been removed as president and stripped of membership. According to the association, the decision is final unless George secures formal clearance from the LMDC.
The LMDC also issued a strong warning to hospitals and clinics across the country, stating that any facility found allowing George to practice would face sanctions including heavy fines, legal prosecution, or closure.
An uncomfortable spotlight on E&J
The revelation that George held a senior medical position at the E&J Medical Center has brought an uncomfortable level of scrutiny to Vice President Koung’s private hospital.
The 116-bed facility, which opened with the aim of supplementing government healthcare services in Ganta, has gained recognition for hosting international surgical missions and partnering with organizations such as Hernia International and diaspora-led groups like UNICCO.
But those achievements now risk being overshadowed by the glaring failure to vet the credentials of its top doctor.
Though there is no indication that Vice President Koung was aware of George’s forged background, the incident raises pressing concerns about institutional oversight in politically connected spaces. How did a man without verified medical qualifications gain access to a facility trusted by thousands?
Rattled trust
In Nimba County, where the E&J Medical Center serves a growing population, the discovery has prompted questions and quiet fear among patients and staff.
“We trusted that only qualified professionals worked there,” said a Ganta resident. “Now we are wondering who else could be unqualified.”
Health experts warn that trust is fragile in the medical field — and even more so in developing countries with already overburdened systems. “It only takes one case like this to undo years of public confidence,” said a health policy consultant who asked not to be named.
Still unfolding
The LMDC says its inquiry into George’s case remains open, and further investigations may uncover similar deceptions. Meanwhile, George has not issued a statement and efforts to contact the E&J Medical Center for comment have gone unanswered.
The situation presents a reminder of the importance of strict vetting procedures, especially in facilities that serve the public and carry political significance. While Dr. George’s fall from grace may be personal, the broader implications ripple across Liberia’s fragile healthcare system.
What began as a celebrated medical career has ended in scandal. And for a hospital tied to the vice presidency, the exposure has put a once-celebrated institution under an unwelcome microscope.
