MONROVIA – The opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of its District 16 Coordinator, Mr. G. Baccus Karpeh, who was reportedly arrested by the National Security Agency (NSA). The announcement was made Thursday morning, June 5, 2025, by CDC National Chairman Attorney Janga Augustus Kowo via a public statement posted on Facebook.
“We have been notified of the arrest of Comrade G. Baccus Karpeh, the CDC Coordinator of District 16, Montserrado County, by the National Security Agency,” Kowo stated. “This information is very concerning and we call for his immediate release.”
In a strongly worded message, the CDC Chairman accused the Unity Party-led government of engaging in repeated violations of citizens’ rights, describing the trend as “very dangerous and unacceptable.” Kowo alleged that citizens are being arrested daily and detained beyond the statutory period without charge, a practice that he says undermines the rule of law and Liberia’s progress on human rights.
“We will hold the government accountable for the safety of Comrade G. Baccus Karpeh,” Kowo warned. “The government should utilize the legal system and stop the secret arrests and prolonged detentions of citizens.”
He further emphasized that Liberia has made significant strides in protecting freedoms and civil liberties, and stressed that “the government will not be permitted to trample on these freedoms.”
In his call for justice, Kowo appealed to international partners and human rights organizations, including the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, the European Union Delegation in Liberia, ECOWAS, Human Rights Watch, the Liberian National Bar Association, and the Liberia National Commission on Human Rights, urging them to take note of what he described as rising authoritarian tendencies in the country.
As of Thursday afternoon, the government had not issued an official response regarding the arrest of Mr. Karpeh or the allegations raised by the CDC.
