By: Anthony Q. Jiffan, Jr
MONROVIA – A Presidential Aspirant, Tiawan Saye Gongloe is calling on the United States of America Government to increase the number of Liberian government officials for designation and sanctions as a means of helping to fight corruption in the Country, adding more on the list including former government officials will serve as deterrence to would be corrupt government officials in Liberia.
Speaking during a peaceful assembly of some Liberians calling themselves “We the People Movement” at the front of the US Embassy near Monrovia over the weekend, Cllr. Gongloe said Liberia under the watch of President George Weah has gone bad as a result of rampant corruption.
According to him, corruption has become a national practice in Liberia under the administration of former soccer star George Weah due to his failure to prosecute corrupt government officials in the Country.
It can be recalled that three officials of the Weah led government, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Nathaniel McGill, National Port Authority Managing Director Bill Twehway and Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cephus were placed on a targeted sanction list on August 15 this year for acts of public corruption.
The former president of the Liberia National Bar Association said it is important for America, a traditional ally, to continue to shine her eyes on individuals whose sole purpose to governance is to steal public funds and use their offices at the detriment of the citizens.
For his part, former Maryland County Senator, John Ballout who read a petition on behalf of the “We the People Movement” said they have gathered before the US Embassy to thank the government and people of the United States for assisting the Liberian Government in the fight against public corruption and asked them to do more.
Senator Ballout noted that the “We the People Movement” have observed over the succeeding decades, governments and generations that the socio-economic condition of Liberians continues to worsen, with increasing breakdown of the rule of law, human rights abuses, and national disunity due to uncontrollable public corruption.
According to him, Liberia has lost over two hundred thousand lives in a series of civil wars because of corruption, bad governance and dictatorship, something he said has left the majority of Liberians poor, helpless, hopeless and vulnerable in a potentially rich country, Liberia.
The former Liberian Legislator indicated that his Movement remains cognizant of the direct relationship between the quality of life of a people and the fight against corruption and has therefore chosen to take advantage of the significant boost provided Liberia in this regard.
He said while they encourage the United States Government to increase its targeted sanctions on corrupt public officials, the movement equally encourages the United States to increase her financial assistance to Liberia because the need is imperative.
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