Dr. Peter Matthew George’s path from the Esther & Jereline Koung Medical Center to the overnight presidency of the Liberia Medical and Dental Association (LMDA) justifies how political connections and institutional gaps can easily enable fraud in Liberia. George served as Chief Medical Officer at the Esther & Jereline Koung Medical and Surgical Center in Ganta, Nimba County, a hospital with close ties to political leadership, notably founded and supported by Liberia’s current Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung. His role at this institution, along with his work in other hospitals and his position as a lecturer at prominent medical institutions, helped him build a formidable reputation in the Liberian medical community. These associations provided him with a veneer of legitimacy and shielded him from early scrutiny, enabling him to rise rapidly within the sector.
Despite his public profile, a thorough investigation by the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) revealed that George’s medical qualifications were fraudulent. He failed to produce a verifiable undergraduate medical degree or the mandatory internship certificate required for medical practice in Liberia. Instead, he presented a forged “Award Verification Letter” from the University of Hertfordshire, UK—a university that did not offer a medical program at the time he claimed to have graduated. His claims of completing both a medical degree and postgraduate training within four years were inconsistent with global standards.
George’s fraudulent credentials went undetected for years, allowing him to perform surgeries, issue official communications as LMDA president, and influence healthcare policy. It was only after the LMDC initiated a systematic verification of medical credentials that his deception was uncovered, leading to his removal from the LMDA presidency and the revocation of his medical license.
The scandal further exposed the glaring weaknesses in Liberia’s governance system, particularly how political influence can override regulatory safeguards. As a result, the LMDC has launched a comprehensive audit of all physician and dentist credentials and established a partnership with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to implement EPIC, a rigorous international credential verification system. These reforms are designed to prevent similar incidents and restore public trust in the healthcare system.
George endangered thousands of lives and his case points out the dangers of unqualified individuals manipulating the system. The LMDC has since emphasized that unlicensed medical practice is not only unethical but also a criminal act that threatens public health. The Council has urged the public to report any suspected cases of medical impersonation to prevent further risks.
“The LMDC emphasized that performing medical or surgical procedures without proper qualifications is not just an ethical violation; it is a crime that endangers lives.”
The exposure of Dr. Peter Matthew George’s fraudulent career has served as a wake-up call for Liberia’s healthcare sector. The reforms now underway aim to ensure that only qualified professionals are entrusted with the nation’s health, reinforcing the critical importance of rigorous credential verification and robust regulatory oversight.
