Defeated Presidential candidate Tiawan Saye Gongloe wants the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), African Union (AU), European Union, and others, to join the United States on imposing sanctions or visa restrictions on corrupt Liberians.
He stated that the action of the United States has sent a clear message to Liberians, hence the need for other international bodies mentioned above, as well as other countries, to follow the example, which is sure to serve as a deterrent to others.
Gongloe told the media yesterday in Monrovia that the sanction or visa restrictions is the best “gift” ever United States has given Liberia in the almost 200 years of its existence as a country, during this festive season.
He pointed out that the United States’s action should be welcome by well-meaning Liberians, instead of condemning same, which will not help, stating that the action taken is a lifelong thing and cannot be easily reversed, as some members of the public seemingly perceive.
Gongloe, who stated that Liberians should not celebrate “rogues or thieves,” was quick to have cautioned the United States, and others, not to be selective in their action but holistic, by going back to previous or former regimes for that matter.
He said both past and present governments have shown no willingness or interest in the fight against corruption in the country, which is eating the fabric of the society, taking food from the mouths of Liberian children with the continued abuse of the country’s natural resources.
Therefore, the former president of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), and the current president of the Movement for Justice In Africa (MOJA), went further that the sanction or visa restriction is a major international boost from the United States Government to Liberia, and that is a laudable gesture.
“The United States’ action shall help to curtail corruption in the country. Because from time immemorial, corruption has undermined the rights of the people. Because of corruption, food, transportation, and other facilities are down and these are connected to survival,” Gongloe noted.
Over the last two years, 9 Liberians who are senior officials of government have been sanctioned or given visa restrictions from entering the United States, for their alleged “significant involvement” in corruption and human rights abuses in Liberia.
Those accused are Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel D. Tweah; Senators James Emmanuel Nuquay and Nathaniel Farlo McGill, both of Margibi County; former Chief Prosecutor, Sayma Syrenius Cephus; and Senator Prince Yormie Johnson of Nimba County.
Others are Senator Varney G. H. Sherman of Grand Cape Mount; Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Tamba Koijee; Rivercess County Senator, Bill Teah Twehway; and Grand Kru County Senator and Senate Pro-tempore, Albert Tugbe Chie
However, this is not the first time that Liberians or government officials have been sanctioned or given visa restrictions by the United States Government.
During former President, Charles “Ghankay” Taylor’s era, scores of former senior officials in his regime were sanctioned by the United States, but following numerous challenges mounted against the restriction by those accused, restriction was lifted.
Among those sanctioned at the time were Wilfred Benoni Urey, Jewel Howard-Taylor, Grace Minor, Martle Gibson, Randolph Cooper, and many more.
Therefore, it is left with those accused in the present regime to do the same thing their predecessors did, to challenge the restrictions and have their names cleared; but they should also remember, where there is smoke, there is fire.
