-Women protest against man who killed his wife in Ganta, Nimba County
BY: Shallon S.Gonlor
GANTA, NIMBA CO.— Scores of women recently staged a protest in the streets of Ganta City, Nimba County, against the recent killing of Ms. Rose K. Garpeh by her Guinean husband in the Republic of Guinea.
It has been a little more than a week since the Liberian woman was killed in the Republic of Guinea without a credible investigation from the Government of Liberia through the Liberia National Police. On Saturday, July 6, 2024, family members including friends and students of the YMCA High School took in protest, paraded the streets of Ganta City and the police depot, chanting and demanding justice into the death of Ms. Rose K. Garpeh who was murdered by her husband, ShikehJallow.
Ms. Rose K. Garpeh,30, a mother of two, have had relationship with the suspect since 2014 as a result of a traditional diary payment. Born March 15, 1992, Rose was a senior student of the YMCA High School in Ganta City, wrote the just ended West Africa Examination Council this year.
Ms Rose, who was popularly known as Baby died in the Republic of Guinea after she was slaughtered and murdered with a blunt object by her husband, Sheikh Jallow who got her in traditional marriage years ago in Ganta, Liberia. Prior to her untimely demise, Ms.Rose K. Garpeh had quarrelled and sort of misunderstandings with her husband in the home they had been living in Ganta City, and threatened to kill her before leaving to live in his home Country, Guinea.
According to multiple sources like families and relatives, the two (deceased and suspect) had long-standing differences until her death as a result of traveling to Guinea along with her two kids to meet her husband upon his request under pretend which was backed by the suspect’s sister who is now in Guinea on the run. According to report, her partner is being held at the Guinea police cell for prosecution, but the decease family doubt his whereabouts in the Guinea custody.
The anti-femicide demonstration on Saturday was another largest women gathering event ever held in the county against sexual and gender-based violence. In a consolidated call for fast-track investigation, the group of women including students wore black T-shirt attire and condemned the killing of Ms. Rose who became the latest victim last month. The crowd, composed mostly of women also condoled the family and called for a speedy investigations into the matter.
“Stop killing us!” the women’s demonstrator shouted as they waved signs with messages such as “There is no justification to kill women like Rose.” The group-lead, Sharon Dolo said they are still in complete shock after having lost their young and promising female.
She disclosed that Rose was killed by her husband, a Guinean national after he opened an attacked on her into their home where she and her two children stay. Ms. Sharon Dolo said justice has not been served because their in-law, the man accused of killing their sister is still out of jail.
No arrests have been made, no warrants have been issued, and she said every day that passes by doesn’t get easier for them. At the heart of a nation rich in contrasts, women embody the struggle marred by gender-based violence.
Impunity, injustice and violence plague the lives of many women, whose hostile environment has brought them to live a life of resilience. Hundreds took to the streets on on Saturday to protest against rampant violence against women, including the recent killing of a woman.
The chants were amplified by megaphones or voices directed upward, faces turned to the sky and chanting the name of a woman whose unsolved murder has become a rallying cry against femicide in the country. Meanwhile, speaking to WOMENVOICES Saturday at their Congo Community in GantaCity, Josephine Paye, the deceased’s aunt said an investigation into the incident has not been launched to bring Sheikh Jallow, the perpetrator forward for prosecution.
She said, due to the sharp object used to kill her, Rose was bleeding from the ears, neck, head and other body parts. Rose K. Garpeh’s aunt, Josephine Paye said the deceased was one of the family’s breadwinners and her death is a blow to the family.
“It’s a blow even to her siblings,” she said, and added that as a family, they were aware of their late daughter’s relationship with the suspect, demanding stern action against the suspect. She said families and friends were shocked by the news of Rose’s death in Guinea. “We are yet to come to terms with the incident and the blood-stained clothes is a clear indication that she met her death painfully,” Josephine lamented. Days after what was called a calculated murder, the grieving aunt and family are recalling the moment they found their daughter dead.
