The US Homeland Security has launched an investigation into three Liberian government officials holding US permanent residency cards, accused of human rights violations and corruption in Liberia. This development follows a letter of complaint submitted by the Panoramic Justice Group to the US Homeland Security, highlighting alleged human rights abuses and public corruption committed by these officials.
According to Garkpe Gedepoh, Retired U.S. Marine, Executive Director of the Panoramic Justice Group based in Washington D.C., the investigation is a direct result of the group’s efforts to bring attention to these issues. The officials in question are: N. Oswald Tweh, Justice Minister; Samuel Kofi Woods National Security Advisor; and Gregory Coleman, Police Inspector General. Oswald Tweh has been accused of providing legal cover for unlawful actions of joint security forces, facilitating abuses, and torturing individuals, including Andrew Lawson, Thomas Etheridge, and Albert Weah. Samuel Kofi Woods, National Security Advisor, has been implicated in orchestrating human rights abuses and swaying Judge Roosevelt Willie’s decisions, with allegations of involvement in the torture of Thomas Etheridge and Eric Susay. Gregory Coleman, Police Inspector General, has been accused of turning the Liberia National Police into a brutal instrument of political oppression and torturing individuals, including Andrew Lawson and Albert Weah.
The Panoramic Justice Group has also urged the US Homeland Security to consider imposing visa restrictions on Judge Roosevelt Willie, accused of compromising justice through alleged bribe-taking. Judge Willie has shown reluctance to release six defendants involved in the December 2024 arson attack on the Capitol Building, despite initially approving a $500,000 property bond. In January 2025, the Panoramic Justice Group issued a report detailing alleged human rights abuses under President Joseph Boakai’s administration. The report cited specific cases of police brutality, custodial deaths, and ritual killings, including the unresolved police shootings of Bangalie Kamara and Essah Massaley in February 2024.
The US State Department’s 2024 Human Rights Report on Liberia also notes serious human rights violations, including arbitrary killings, torture, and limitations on freedom of expression and media freedom. These findings underscore the group’s concerns about the Liberian government’s human rights record.
Panoramic Justice Group has been advocating for accountability and transparency in Liberia, urging the US government to impose sanctions on implicated officials and review Liberia’s eligibility under the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact. The group’s efforts aim to promote democracy and the rule of law in Liberia.
