Liberia’s top doctor stripped of medical licence over fake degree scandal
The Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) has revoked the medical licence of Dr Peter Matthew George, President of the Liberia Medical and Dental Association (LMDA), citing unresolved concerns regarding the authenticity of his medical qualifications.
Dr George, who previously served as the Medical Director at the Esther & Jereline Medical Centre in Ganta, Nimba County, northeastern Liberia, is now permanently barred from practising medicine in the West African nation. The LMDC formalised its decision through a letter dated April 21, 2025.
In the communication signed by Dr Benetta Colins Andrews, Chairperson of the LMDC, the council stated:
“The Credential Committee has officially informed my office that your claim of being a Medical Doctor could not be substantiated by the documents you provided. Particularly so that you’ve failed to provide your undergraduate medical certificate and internship certificate which are the absolute prerequisites for obtaining license to practice medicine in Liberia.”
The letter further confirmed the outcome of the LMDC’s Credential Committee meeting held on April 18, 2025:
“The Credential Committee has therefore in its Friday, April 18, 2025, sitting, recommended the REVOCATION OF YOUR LICENSE effective immediately. Kindly consider this communication as LMDC’s official endorsement of the recommendation by the credential committee based on the findings of its investigation.”
The decision follows an audit launched by the LMDC into the credentials of medical practitioners operating in the country. Dr George was formally requested on March 18, 2025, to present documentation for a re-evaluation of his licensure. However, the council noted that its records showed no verifiable credentials for him at the time.
Further scrutiny revealed inconsistencies in Dr George’s stated academic background. He previously listed a “professional doctorate in medicine (MD), general medicine” from the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom on his LinkedIn profile, which has since been removed.
In a statement provided to the BBC, the University of Hertfordshire refuted this claim:
“Following a thorough review of our academic records, we can confirm that there is no evidence that this individual was ever awarded any degree by the University nor studied here. Any claim to the contrary is therefore false and constitutes a misrepresentation of our institution. We are cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities in Liberia and will continue to support any investigations as required.”
Dr George has denied the LMDC’s conclusions and claims the investigation is politically motivated.
“I have served the Liberian health sector diligently for over a decade with no record of misconduct,” he told the BBC. He attributed the reference to the University of Hertfordshire to a clerical error “Maybe I made an error when writing because am under pressure.”
Dr George stated that his primary medical degree was obtained from the University of Central Nicaragua and that he began practising in Liberia in 2014 after submitting his qualifications to the relevant authorities. He maintained that his credentials had not been previously contested.
He further alleged that increased scrutiny followed his election as LMDA President in December 2024. “Problems started to arise once I became the president of the Liberia Medical and Dental Association,” he said, asserting that tensions escalated after the LMDA opposed the government’s reclassification of specialists and consultants.
“I am continuing the long-standing advocacy for the rights and welfare of doctors and dentists in the country.”
