Monrovia – The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has welcomed the sentencing of five women to 20 years imprisonment each for trafficking 14 children and engaging in criminal conspiracy, describing the ruling as a major step toward protecting children and strengthening Liberia’s fight against human trafficking.
By Patience M. Jones, patience.jones@frontpageafrica.com
The judgment was handed down on Monday by Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia during the February Term of Court in Montserrado County.
The convicted women — Halimantu Daramy, Grace Sesay, Hawa Kamara, Henrita Beayce, and Famata Doe — were prosecuted by the Ministry of Justice, with support from the legal team of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
The five women were arrested on April 10, 2025, at the Red Light transport hub in Monrovia by officers of the Liberia Immigration Service while traveling with the 14 children, most of whom were later determined not to be their biological children.
Investigations conducted by the Liberia National Police (LNP) revealed that the women had allegedly planned to move the children through neighboring countries, including Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, on their way to Mali where they intended to exploit them for financial gain through humanitarian resettlement programs.
Authorities also disclosed that the same group had reportedly attempted a similar operation in 2024, during which eight children were taken to Mali and support was allegedly obtained from international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Red Cross.
As part of the ruling, all five women were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, with immediate enforcement at the Monrovia Central Prison.
The court further ordered that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection maintain custody of the 14 children, ensuring they receive food, shelter, healthcare, and education.
The court also instructed that DNA testing be conducted to verify any future claims of parental or familial rights before any custody arrangements are changed.
Reacting to the verdict, Gender Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie praised the court’s decision, calling it a clear demonstration of Liberia’s commitment to ending child trafficking.
“We welcome this verdict and applaud the court for reinforcing Liberia’s commitment to ending child trafficking. The Ministry remains steadfast in protecting children and ensuring justice for the most vulnerable in our society,” Minister Horace-Kollie said.
Minister Horace-Kollie also commended the Ministry’s legal team for its close collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, noting that the partnership played a critical role in securing justice in the case.
The case highlights the persistent challenge of child trafficking in West Africa, where poverty, weak social protections, and porous borders continue to expose children to exploitation and abuse.
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance against child trafficking and is urging all Liberians, communities, and development partners to remain vigilant in safeguarding children and defending their rights.
According to the Ministry, the verdict sends a strong message that child trafficking will not be tolerated in Liberia and that the protection and welfare of children remain a national priority.
