Liberia: Adoption Home Shut Down as Arrest Warrant Issued for Staff Over Child Abuse Charges
Ministry of Gender Takes Action Against Americans for Africans Adoptions
PAYNESVILLE, Montserrado — The Liberian Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has shut down a local adoption agency with U.S. partners and issued arrest warrants for its Liberian and American leaders, along with four staff members, following allegations of child abuse.
Investigation Reveals Disturbing Findings
The ministry’s decision against Americans for Africans Adoptions comes nearly a year after a police investigation uncovered evidence of “child physical abuse perpetrated by their immediate caretakers” and found the agency had “deliberately failed” to respond to the allegations. The probe was initiated following a complaint from U.S. embassy staff in Monrovia.
Webster Cassell, a ministry communications specialist, explained that while the police report was completed in May 2023 and warrants issued in November, action was only taken this week after embassy officials followed up about the investigation’s status.
Shocking Allegations of Abuse and Neglect
The police report detailed disturbing findings, including:
- Sexual activities were common among children at the facility
- Eight girls were sexually abused by other children
- Caretakers knew about but concealed the sexual activities
Children Removed, Staff Facing Charges
The ministry removed all 30 children (ages 2-18) from the facility last year, placing them in government safe homes. Arrest warrants have been issued for:
- Oretha James (Country Director)
- Elizabeth Gotta
- Martha P. Philip
- Facia Brooks
- Cheryl Carter-Shott (American founder)
The staff face charges including reckless endangerment, endangering child welfare, and criminal conspiracy. Carter-Shott, believed to be in the U.S., would require extradition to face charges in Liberia.
Related Case: Small World Adoption Agency
In a related development, the ministry announced it may lift a suspension on Small World Adoption Agency within 30 days if they meet new requirements, including hiring an independent psychosocial counselor. Police found no evidence to support trafficking allegations against its director.
History of Adoption Issues in Liberia
Child adoption controversies aren’t new in Liberia. The country:
- Banned adoptions in 2009 due to abuse and corruption
- Lifted the ban in 2015 with new regulations
- Continues to face challenges in the adoption sector
Americans for African Adoptions has faced previous allegations across Africa, including lawsuits from families who paid for adoptions but never received children.
This story is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project. Funding was provided by the Swedish Embassy in Liberia which had no say in the story’s content.
This article summarizes an original report. Read the full story at FrontPage Africa.