Africa-Press – Liberia. A retired public servant and 66-year-old woman, Mrs. Cora E. Taylor Ferguson, is crying for justice after the Ministry of Public Works demolished her home on Thursday in the Old Road community—despite a standing court injunction intended to halt the demolition.
Mrs. Taylor-Ferguson, who worked as a Public Relations Coordinator at the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), says she was left homeless and devastated by the Ministry’s action, which she describes as not only unlawful but humiliating and targeted.
“I feel completely targeted. My land deed clearly shows that only a small portion of my fence was marked, specifically where the fence was installed. But I woke up to find my entire house torn down—my life’s work destroyed,” she told reporters tearfully while standing among the debris.
According to her, she secured a court injunction on Wednesday, May 21, instructing the Ministry to halt the planned demolition. She presented a copy of the injunction to Public Works officials when they arrived with heavy equipment the following day. But instead of stopping, the team allegedly brushed it aside and proceeded with the destruction.
“I showed them the court paper. I called and called the Minister. He told me before that only my fence would be touched. But this time, he stood there while they destroyed everything I owned. I kept screaming, but no one listened, “she said.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that an official at the scene outrightly rejected the court’s authority.
“I am not the one to read any court paper. Go back to court or make the Minister call me. Right now, I don’t care who you are,” one Ministry staffer was heard telling Mrs. Taylor-Ferguson, according to residents who gathered during the incident.
Mrs. Taylor-Ferguson explained that the demolished building was more than a home—it was her livelihood and a cultural space for the community.
“This is my inheritance. This building is older than I am. I hosted cabaret nights and film shows right here. It kept me going after retirement. Now everything is gone. My documents, my clothes, my memories—they’ve left me with nothing.”
She added that she had sought clarity from the Liberia Land Authority, which reportedly confirmed that the structure did not sit on an alley or right of way, as the Ministry claimed.
“I went to the Land Authority myself. They checked and told me there’s no alley on my land. So how can Public Works destroy it and ignore both the deed and the court? This is not development; it’s abuse of power.”
Residents of Old Road are questioning the fairness of the demolition exercise, pointing to the fact that several marked properties — allegedly owned by politically connected individuals, the late Alhaji G.V. Kromah— were spared.
“It’s clear that some people are above the law. Buildings belonging to big men were not touched, even though they had red marks just like the others. But they came here and destroyed the woman’s house without mercy,” said Amos Sumo, a local youth leader.
A Daily Observer investigation revealed that at least two commercial properties and a residential structure reportedly linked to a government official were marked for removal but remain untouched as of Friday.
Dozens of community members turned out in protest following the demolition, expressing outrage at what they called an “assault on the vulnerable.”
“What happened here today is unacceptable. This isn’t just a demolition—it’s a violation of the law. If a court order can be ignored like that, then we are no longer safe,” said Beatrice Tamba, a resident.
Multiple efforts to contact the Ministry of Public Works for a response have so far been unsuccessful. Phone calls to senior officials went unanswered, and no public statement has been issued addressing the destruction of a court-protected structure.
Legal experts say the Ministry’s refusal to obey the court injunction may constitute contempt and could prompt legal consequences if pursued.
“No government institution has the right to override a court order. If proven, this is a dangerous precedent, and the court must act,” said a Monrovia-based legal analyst, requesting anonymity.
Mrs. Taylor-Ferguson, who now stays with a relative, says she has lost faith in the very institutions she once trusted.
“I served this country with honor. I worked, I paid taxes, I followed the law. Now, at this stage of my life, they’ve stripped me of everything. I want justice—not just for me, but for everyone they are targeting unfairly. This should never happen to another Liberian.”
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