-Regarding 12th grade student’s death
By Mark N. Mengonfia mmenginfia@gmail.com
The Executive Director of the Liberia-Ghana Mission, Rev. Emmanuel Giddings has responded to allegation linking him to the death of a 12th grade student says, “I only did what a parent would have done”.
He told journalists at a press conference held at his Duazon residence on Monday, that he was informed about the incident by his Abraham after he (Rev. Giddings) had completed playing pool for about three hours.
The Methodist cleric said the night the incident occurred, he (Rev. Giddings), Suah, Alex and Chris all from the same community, played for three hours and by midnight he left to go get shower.
He explained that after leaving from the pool room, he realized that there was no water in the room and he called Diana, (his other daughter) and asked why there was no water and he was told that Abraham (his nephew) had left his room to have the water pump put on.
According to him, when he was informed that Abramah has been told to turn off the pump, he and Diana proceeded to the pump.
“As we were walking towards him towards the powerhouse to ensure the water was on, he was running towards me and I met him right at the gate, he was breathing faintly and looking exhausted” Rev. Giddings added.
According to him, he asked Abraham as to wither he has putted the water line on and Abraham answered in affirmative.
“He said something happened, and I said what, he said one of Cynthia’s friends is laying down on the floor bleeding and I said what? I thought they should all be at the entertainment center?” he inquired.
He said he did not know all of the kids by their faces.
He said when the news was given to him about the girl’s condition, he along with Abraham and Diana raced where the incident occurred.
“When we reached, she was on the ground with blood oozing from either he ear or her head,” he added.
He indicated that when he noticed that the girl was in a critical condition, saving the girl’s life was the first thing he said came to mind.
He went on to say that he made Diana and Abraham reach out to some residents of the community to help them carry the girl to the hospital.
He said when they reached at the ELWA Hospital, Ordell Sherman was placed on a hospital bed but Doctors on duty said, they could not work on her on grounds that they never known her hospital case or record and that they needed someone to identify her.
“ I never know her, so I started calling my daughter and her friends to come identify the girl, but they did not answer until when I went back home they have reached so I told Abraham to take them to the hospital; I don’t know how many of them got in the car but after few minutes I received a call that the hospital needed that card they gave me to open the lady’s file,” Rev. Giddings said.
He furthered that the card was taken back to the hospital.
According to him, around 3:30-4:00 in the morning, his daughter walked in his room and informed him that the girl did not make it.
“ I cried bitterly that morning because this could have been my daughter that I told not to go and still had to go,” he said.
Giving a background, Rev. Giddings said before that start of the just ended West African Senior Certificate Examination, his daughter asked him to allow she and her friends camp for their test.
He said that he was hesitant on grounds that the house he presently lives in could not accommodate him and them
He said later his daughter was able to convinced him that that they could use the his other building that is under construction.
Be consented and bought provisions for them. He clarified that his encounter with the girl was when they leaving from their room and going for their test and at one point in time when they ran out of provision.
He furthered that on May 20, 2019, his daughter asked him this time to allow her found part of the entertainment, a celebration after their test.
“I told her no, but she said that they have already collected money for the celebration.”
According to him, he allowed her to go with her friends under a condition.
“ I gave her three houses to be back home,” he said.
The L-GM big man said he has no reason to rape or kill a child for anything as it has been claimed on traditional media and social media.
He went on to say that the late Ordell Sharman was not a part of the eight girls who camped with his daughter at his house.
“She is their classmate who I later got to know that she joined the girls to go for the entertainment,” the Methodist cleric explained.
The press conference concluded with a tour of the room the eight girls occupied before the death of the girl.
At the end, Rev. Giddings requested a speedy investigation and if possible an autopsy conducted to establish the facts of what really happened, something he said has damaged his reputation and that of the institution he head.
Police investigation is ongoing.