‘LEGALIZED THEFT’ -Gongloe Slams Boakai’s Extravagant Foreign Trip, Foya Resort  

MONROVIA – President Joseph Boakai’s ‘extravagant’ foreign trips, including the one to Japan for TICAD 9 and Expo 2025, as well as the construction of a $10 million presidential resort in Foya amidst widespread poverty in Liberia, are drawing notice and outrage. One Liberian who consistently speaks out against such excesses is Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe. He has joined others in questioning the necessity of a 23-member delegation, including 12 cabinet ministers, for a country ranked among the poorest globally. As The Analyst reports, Gongloe who is a former presidential contender, is urging the government to prioritize transparency, publish the delegate list and funding sources, and criticizes the apparent extravagance, calling it “legalized theft”.

Renowned human rights advocate Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe today expressed his disappointment and frustration over the Liberian government’s recent extravagant trip to Japan for TICAD 9 and Expo 2025 and the unexplained wealth accumulation evidenced by his contribution of a $10 million resort in his Foya homeland amid entrenched poverty amongst Liberians.

While supporting Liberia’s engagement with Japan, Gongloe questioned the necessity of a 23-member official delegation, including 12 cabinet ministers, for a country ranked among the poorest in the world.

“Fellow Liberians, I welcome Liberia’s participation in TICAD 9 and Expo 2025, which can open doors for investment, technology, tourism, and jobs,” the law professor said in a new commentary titled, “What Kind of Country Is This?”

He continued: “However, I strongly oppose the apparent extravagance surrounding this trip. A poor country like Liberia, with inadequate healthcare, educational systems, and infrastructure, cannot afford jumbo entourages.”

He asserted Liberians people demand medicine in hospitals, desks for schools, and clean water in communities, and expressed the hope that every dollar must work for the people.

The noted human rights advocate further stated: “I urge the government to prioritize transparency by publishing the full delegate list, stating who is funding what, and the purpose of each official.”

Gongloe opined that representing Liberia with pride and prudence, not extravagance, is essential for the nation’s progress, and protecting taxpayers’ money and ensuring it serves the people’s interests is our collective responsibility.

“Let’s work together to build a better Liberia, where government resources serve the people, not the privileged few. We can achieve progress with prudence and accountability,” he said.

The Political Leader of the Liberian People’s Party, one of the oldest in the country, also took aimed at President Boakai for the construction of the presidential resort in his hometown of Foya, while poverty is scourging the Liberian populace.

He asked rather rhetorically: “Is it true that while Liberians struggle to pay school fees, graduation fees, buy rice, and finding it very difficult to afford basic medicines for malaria, and other illnesses, the government is spending US$10 million to build a presidential resort in Foya, Lofa County?”

He said it does not matter whether the cost of the project is less but the question is whether the project is a priority at this time.

Appealing to the conscience of the status quo, Gongloe further lamented: “Have we forgotten about the castle that Tubman built in Cape Palmas, or the luxury buildings on his farm in Pleboe, Maryland County and Totota, Bong County and in Congo Town, Montserrado County? Have we forgotten that the Bensonville and Tuzon presidential projects were unnecessary waste of money that could have been used to build more schools and clinics as well as adequately equip them? While repeat these failed projects? Is President Boakai ever going to live in Foya?”

Turning to the Unity Party Government, he quipped, tauntingly but seriously, in reference to the party’s campaign slogan: “Is this what we call ‘Rescue,” or is it another demonstration of reward for power? Is it true that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai left for the United Nations General Assembly on September 8 and returned on September 30 — spending twenty-two days — while President Duma Boko of Botswana spent only seven days (Sept 21–28) and delivered one of the most powerful speeches, calling on Africa to stop exporting raw materials?”

“Is it true that President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana stayed only eight days (Sept 22–30)?” he continued, and added: “Botswana and Ghana are richer and better managed than Liberia. Yet their leaders did not turn the UN meeting into a mini- vacation. They swiftly returned to their countries because they felt the urgency to do so.”

Further lamenting the pity situation the Liberian people are faced, the human rights defendant asked, “What kind of country is this? Is it true that, in the name of ‘Rescue,’ our leaders are still wasting public money on luxury and comfort, with long convoys of expensive vehicles,  while the people they lead can barely find food to eat?”

The long time Liberian progressive recalled that President William R. Tolbert had only three car convoy and his Vice President, Bennie Warner, one vehicle and one motorcycle.

“By doing so, he saved money to invest in schools, clinics, roads, agriculture and integrated rural development,” he insisted. “Today, the President has a 24 car convoy, the Vice President 14 car convoy. The result is no government built high school in downtown, Monrovia. G. W. Gibson and Newport Street government schools were built as elementary and junior high schools respectively and opened in 1968.

“Aye lord, what kind of country is this? While the Republic Guinea is giving stipend to University Students, students of the University of Liberia and every school is Liberia is making graduation fee a pre-condition for graduation. What kind of country is this?”

He said opposition politicians and activists condemned President George Weah for putting pleasure and taste for luxury over duty. “We must not stay silent, if President Joseph Boakai does the same. What was wrong yesterday is wrong today!”

Silence in the face of waste is betrayal of the Liberian people, he said, quipping, “What kind of country is this!”

Gongloe said as the first politician to ask the Liberian people to support President Boakai in the second round, “I have a moral obligation to hold him to his promises. I want him to succeed — but success cannot come through extravagance and insensitivity to the cry of the people for a better Liberia. What kind of country is this?”

Continuing, the asserted: “When a poor man from New Kru Town, West Point,or Buzzy Quarter, amongst other slum arears is accused of rape, he is arrested, handcuffed and detained before investigation; but when a Deputy  Minister is accused of the same crime, the police says CCTV and DNA result before arrest.

“So in Liberia now, the police has a different law for a poor man and a different law for the big man, when it comes to rape. Yet the only condition for arrest under the law is probable cause, not reasonable doubt! What kind of country is this?”

The presidential candidate in the 2023 general and presidential elections, Gongloe declared that Liberia needs a simple, humble, honest and sensitive leadership that believes in the equal application of the law because the law is the law— a leadership that serves, not one that eats first.

“So again, I shout plainly and loudly from the top of Ducor Hotel, to Mount Wologizi and from the Puto Mountain to the Nimba Mountains as well as from Cape Mount to Cape Palmas:
What kind of country is this?” he concluded, lamenting, “Aye, Lord help us! How can a country so rich have people that are so poor?”