Former presidential candidate Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe attributes Liberia’s underdevelopment and widespread poverty to shortsighted leadership, decades of mismanagement, and corruption.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, Liberia, February 17, 2025— Renowned Liberian Human Rights lawyer and former presidential candidate Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe blames Liberia’s continued poverty and underdevelopment on current President Joseph Boakai and past Liberian leaders’ shortsighted leadership, decades of mismanagement, and corruption.
Delivering a keynote address on Saturday, February 15, 2025, on the topic “A Call for Transformative Change: Liberia’s Path to Prosperity,” he noted that Liberia is faced with the undeniable truth that, despite its vast resources, it remains one of the poorest nations in the world.
Commenting briefly on what he described as legacy of unfulfilled promises, Cllr. Gongloe argued that when President Boakai took office, he promised a “Rescue Mission” to transform Liberia; accordingly, his governance experience raised hopes for real progress.
“Yet today, poverty still grips our nation, and it is clear that what we need is not just a change in leadership, but a revolution in governance – one that places the needs of the people above the wants of the few”, he says.
Cllr. Gongloe, leader of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP) continues that Liberia’s future requires bold action, systemic reform, and a commitment to responsible, people-centered leadership.
“This paradox is not the result of a lack of natural wealth; rather, it stems from decades of mismanagement, corruption, and short-sighted leadership. Today, we must ask: What kind of Liberia do we want to build? A nation forever dependent on foreign aid, or a self-sufficient, productive, and thriving Liberia?” He wonders.
Commenting on Liberians’ reality, he laments that Liberia is rich in resources—gold, diamonds, timber, fertile land—but these resources have not translated into prosperity for the majority of the people.
“Why is this the case? Despite the wealth beneath our soil, many Liberians lack access to basic services like education, healthcare, food security, and infrastructure. Our continued poverty is not a result of resource scarcity, but rather poor governance and the prioritization of personal gain over national development”, Cllr. Gongloe notes.
Speaking of cutting waste and redirecting resources, he recommends that eliminating waste in government be the first step toward transformation.
Cllr. Gongloe says it’s unacceptable for government officials to continue enjoying lavish salaries, foreign travel, and excessive state functions while most Liberians struggle to access basic services.
He urges the government to cut wasteful expenditures and reallocate funds to sectors that will drive real development, such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and agriculture.
Cllr. Gongloe: “Look at nations such as Botswana, Rwanda, and Mauritius – countries with fewer resources than Liberia that have managed to build thriving economies through human development, good governance, and wise resource management. If they can do it, so can we. Liberia has the resources and the potential; what we lack is leadership that prioritizes the people’s needs over political interests.” Editing by Jonathan Browne
