Zota District – In the light of a fading evening, Golpuyalkpolo (not her real name) sat barefoot outside her neighbor’s house, her three young sons gathered around her. Tears gently roll her cheeks as she speaks of the horror that has been bothering her family since 2022. Her voice is not anger, but a quiet, hopeless resolve to save her child’s future from the shadows of indescribable trauma.
Supported by moderate agriculture in the Zota district, Golp’s family lived a peaceful and humble life. That changed dramatically when her 15-year-old daughter (No. 18 this year) Fromo (not her real name) became a victim of repeated sexual violence. Suspicious assailant: her own father.
According to the Belefanai Health Center’s 2022 medical report, the teenager was pregnant for five months at the time of diagnosis. She told police investigators that she threatened to kill her if her father, Janteh Togbah, spoke out. The pregnancy was later legally ended in Gbarnga with the consent of his mother, but the emotional and psychological wounds remain fresh.
When news of the abuse broke, Jante fled across the border to nearby Guinea. He has since remained to care for Golp alone for his four children.
A critical family
Faced with shame and danger, Golp moved to Gubaunga with his children in search of safety and anonymity. However, living in the city offers little reprieve. Today, the family lives in an aging, one-room structure, barely interacting. Golp relies on a small garden and street sales of his young son who steals donuts to pay for food and rent.
Despite her circumstances, she continues to focus on giving her children the opportunity to regain their future.
“This isn’t just a story of suffering,” she said, her voice broke during the interview. “It’s a cry for justice and asking for help. I want my kids to go to school and live a normal life.”
Her daughter, who currently lives in a temporary shelter in Monrovia, is hiding while receiving limited support. Golp’s three sons, ages 9 to 16, continue to share a cramped space with Gbarnga’s mother. Their situation is important and their needs are urgent – especially for housing, education and basic livelihood support.
National Pattern of Abuse
The Golp story is not isolated. Sexual and domestic violence continues to destroy Liberian communities, exacerbated by the country’s war and the legacy of its established patriarchy.
Rape accounted for nearly 74% of all gender-based violence cases reported in 2022, according to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. Victims often face stigma, threats, and systemic negligence, but perpetrators avoid justice with immunity.
A 2002 World Health Organization report revealed that between 61% and 77% of Liberian women and girls were raped during the country’s brutal civil war. Today, the trauma persists at home, at school and at communities, with many survivors still struggling with silence.
The government has established Court E to quickly track sexual abuse cases and has taken steps to rape a national emergency in 2020, but these measures are insufficient. Delays in prosecutors, resource-lacking courts, and limited survivor support services continue to undermine justice and accountability.
System gaps
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) intervened to provide some support. Groups like men against rape and domestic violence (MARDV), and Just A Girl Initiatives (Jagi), run cognitive campaigns, provide psychosocial counseling, and advocate for systematic reform advocates. However, the lack of long-term safe homes, comprehensive rehabilitation services, and sustainable financial aid continues to make survivors and their families vulnerable.
According to the Bon County gender coordinator, both Golp and her daughter initially received limited support from partner NGOs. But that support has since dried up.
“They were given short-term help,” she confirmed. “But now they’re single-minded. We’re appealing to humanitarian organisations, local leaders and the public to urgently support this mother and her four children.”
Forgotten voice
One of the most heartbreaking perspectives comes from Paul (not his real name), the family’s second 16-year-old son. He dreams of completing school and supporting his siblings and mother.
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“It’s hard to focus on school when you’re always worried about rent and food,” he said. “But I want to help my mother and take care of my sister and brother. I just want a place where we can live in peace.”
His resilience is amazing. But his words are a calm reminder of the cost of inaction and the possibility that they could be lost without intervention.
Justice and the plea of mankind
The Golp family needs more than charity. They need justice. They need protection. And we need a system in which the perpetrators are indicted, the survivors are rehabilitated and families like them will not be forgotten.
As this investigation continues, one question is looming heavily. Do more families need to suffer silence before they can take action?
At just 18 years old, Mary’s story already embodies the harsh reality facing too many young girls in Liberia. Her case – and the accused’s immunity – poses an urgent need for justice, accountability and a sustainable support system.
To support your Golp, daughter and son, contact the following numbers:
+231 886 392 814 | +231 778 024 328 | +231 888 951 602
