MONROVIA – The Liberian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Alhassan Conteh, finds himself at the center of controversy as allegations of a cover-up in the rape case of Nat Bayjay’s daughter have surfaced. Nat Bayjay, a former staff member of the Liberian embassy in Abuja, has accused unknown individuals of raping his daughter while she was in Nigeria. Despite Bayjay’s pleas for justice, Ambassador Conteh allegedly failed to take any action to investigate this heinous crime.
Adding fuel to the fire, President Boakai recently appointed Dr. Alhassan Conteh as Liberia’s Ambassador to the United Nations. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from Stanton Witherspoon, the manager of the pro-government radio station Spoon Radio. Witherspoon questions President Boakai’s choice and expresses his bewilderment at what he perceives as a lack of leadership demonstrated by Dr. Conteh during his tenure at the Liberian embassy in Abuja. Moreover, Whiterspoon highlights the multiple roles Dr. Conteh currently holds, including acting as the President of the University of Liberia and serving as the Liberian Ambassador to Nigeria, further raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Whiterspoon, a staunch supporter of President Boakai, voices his frustration at what he sees as a pattern of appointing individuals with questionable records in the government. He questions the special qualifications or merits that make Dr. Conteh deserving of such high-level appointments, especially when his alleged failure to address a grave crime has been brought to light. The appointment of Nat Bayjay, the father of the rape victim, as the Deputy Minister for Technical Services at the Ministry of Information further adds to the controversy, as it appears that his daughter’s case has not been properly investigated while the person believed to have covered up the crime is being promoted. Dr. Conteh could not be reached for comment on Whiterspoon’s blistering attack on his person.
As the public awaits President Boakai’s response to these serious allegations, the controversy surrounding Dr. Alhassan Conteh’s appointment continues to grow. The Liberian people are left questioning the judgment and priorities of their government, demanding justice for the victims and transparency in the decision-making process.