By Precious D. Freeman
Renowned Liberian human rights lawyer and former presidential candidate CTiawan Saye Gongloe, has attributed Liberia’s persistent poverty and underdevelopment to decades of mismanagement, corruption, and shortsighted leadership.
He particularly pointed to President Joseph Boakai and past leaders for failing to implement transformative policies that would lift the country out of economic hardship.
Delivering a keynote address yesterday titled “A Call for Transformative Change: Liberia’s Path to Prosperity,” Cllr. Gongloe highlighted that despite Liberia’s vast natural wealth, it remains one of the poorest nations in the world.
Cllr. Gongloe criticized President Boakai’s leadership, stating that his promise of a “Rescue Mission” had yet to yield tangible improvements for the Liberian people.
“When President Boakai took office, he raised hopes for real progress. Yet today, poverty still grips our nation, and 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,” Gongloe stated.
The Liberia People’s Party (LPP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Gongloe, emphasized that Liberia’s future depends on bold reforms, strong institutions, and a commitment to people-centered governance.
He lamented that Liberia is blessed with abundant resources, including gold, diamonds, timber, and fertile land, yet these assets have not translated into widespread prosperity.
“Why is this case? Despite the wealth beneath our soil, far too 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 of poor governance and the prioritization of personal gain over national development,” Gongloe argued.
The human rights lawyer called for the elimination of wasteful government spending, stating that it is unacceptable for officials to live lavishly while the majority of Liberians struggle daily.
“Government officials continue to enjoy excessive salaries, foreign travels, and extravagant state functions while ordinary citizens suffer. Liberia’s government must cut wasteful expenditures and reallocate those funds to sectors that will drive real development; education, healthcare, infrastructure, and agriculture,” he asserted.
Gongloe urged Liberia’s leaders to look to nations such as Botswana, Rwanda, and Mauritius, countries which according to him have fewer resources than Liberia yet thriving due to effective governance and strategic planning.
“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,” he concluded.
His speech has reignited discussions about governance, accountability, and the future of Liberia under Boakai’s administration.