By P. Vangerline Kpotoe
MONROVIA, July 1 (LINA) – The Board of Directors of the More Than Me (MTM) charity organization has announced the closure of the organization’s operations in Liberia as of June 30, 2019.
The MTM Board in a statement issued recently said the decision to shut down its operations in Liberia was reached as the result of the several financial pressures on the organization due to the MTM’s inability to raise fund as well as their consideration of the recommendations from the McLane Middieton and Independent panel reports.
“As we take this action, we sincerely apologize for the past failures of our institution that no child should ever have to endure sexual abuse, and we are profoundly sorry, some of our students were victimized we have sincerely apologized to those who were harmed and we deeply regret their suffering,” the MTM Board of Directors indicated in the statement.
“We recognize that we have an utmost responsibility to support the 11 survivors going forward, we have set aside funds for this purpose,” the statement explained.
The MTM, however, pointed out that they are working to ensure a smooth closure of the Academy and LEAP activities for the 2018/2019 academy year and they are also working on plans for the utilization of the organization limited remaining resources to further support the children of Liberia, most especially the children at the More Than Me Academy.
MTM is an American charity established in Liberia in 2009 by Katie Meyler to provide education to underprivileged girls who were often used as breadwinners for their families living in urban slum communities, mainly populous West Point.
In the latter months of 2018, the academy, located on Ashmun Street in central Monrovia was heavily rocked by allegations of sex abuse of some of the kids attending the school by co-founder and recruiter Macintosh Johnson, who died of an unknown sickness even though it was rumored he fell prey to HIV.
In October, U.S.-based Pro-Publica news outlet uncovered a series of rape and sexual abuse cases at the More Than Me Academy by Johnson.
In June this year, the Special Investigative Panel set up to probe the reported incidents of rape and child abuse at the More Than Me (MTM) Academy released its findings indicating the MTM Academy was liable for rape acts that occurred at their facility by their then employees Macintosh Johnson and Cyrus Cooper.
