MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe, Assistant Professor of Law at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, has accused the Boakai administration of being selective in its call for investigations into unexplained deaths. In a public commentary on Monday, March 10, 2025, Gongloe praised President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s recent decision to investigate certain mysterious deaths but criticized the exclusion of several high-profile cases, including those of Harry Greaves Jr. and Michael Alison.
Gongloe argued that leaving out these controversial cases raises concerns about political bias and weakens public trust in the government’s commitment to justice. He called on Minister of Justice Oswald Tweh to launch a thorough and impartial inquiry into all suspicious deaths, regardless of the administration under which they occurred.
Among the cases Gongloe highlighted is the death of Harry Greaves Jr., the former Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), whose body was found on a Monrovia beach in 2016 under suspicious circumstances. He also pointed to the mysterious death of whistleblower Michael Alison, who was linked to corruption revelations.
Gongloe further referenced two recent cases under the former George Weah administration: the alleged suicide of Executive Protection Service (EPS) officer Melvin Earley in 2021, who reportedly shot himself three times in Tappita, Nimba County, and the 2024 death of Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) soldier Sgt. Bobby Manndeh, who allegedly shot himself six times while on duty at the Edward Beyan Kesselly Barracks.
“The omission of these cases raises serious questions about the government’s true intentions,” Gongloe said, warning that the Liberian people might view the investigation as a tool for political vendettas rather than a genuine search for truth. He insisted that justice must be comprehensive and that any government unwilling to confront past wrongs risks losing public confidence.
Gongloe’s call for a broader investigation comes amid growing public scrutiny of the Boakai administration’s handling of corruption and governance. Critics argue that the president’s selective approach to high-profile cases reflects a pattern of targeting political opponents while shielding allies from accountability.
“If the Boakai administration wants to restore public trust, it must prove that the rule of law applies to everyone, not just to its political adversaries,” Gongloe asserted, adding that transparency and fairness are essential to prevent future tragedies.
