“Liberia’s Founding Dream Betrayed,” Says Gongloe

Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe has claimed that Liberia's  past and present leaders betrayed the country's founding dream as a result of widespread corruption. Yet, he believes hope is “still alive.”

Gongloe, a human rights activist who is eyeing the Liberia presidency in 2023 on the ticket of the Liberia People’s Party (LPP), noted that the dream for the declaration of Liberia’s independence in Africa was to show the rest of the world that Africans were ready to govern themselves.

“Liberian problems started with the abandonment of its founding purpose by the colonists who chose to replicate their American slavery experience instead of following through on the vision that was brought to Liberia.”

“The founding dream has been betrayed by past and current leaders of Liberia as a result of widespread corruption; but hope is still alive,” Gongloe said while addressing students of the African Studies Department of the University of San Francisco, California, USA.  

Gongloe, who over the last few months has been preaching the doctrine of respect for the rule of law, while selling himself as a comforting national healer, capable of restoring Liberia through an administration that respects rule of law and expands the economy, believes that the 2023 elections present the country the opportunity to redeem and resurrect the betrayed dream.

He noted that dream means showing the rest of the world that Liberia can govern itself in peace and justice, and fairly manage its “resources for the benefit of all citizens.”

“The Liberian 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections present the country the opportunity to strengthen the rule of law and sweep corruption out of the country. So the time is now to resurrect it for Liberia to be free of corruption to allow all Liberians to benefit from the promise of the dream,” said Gongloe who was invited by the university to speak on the topic: ‘Liberia: past, present, and future’.

Gongloe urged Liberians to vote for candidates who are willing to summon a new dawn in Liberia, beginning with the presidency, to begin the process of sweeping corruption out of the country on day one of the new government “by making asset declarations, salaries and benefits of the President and all officials of government public by publishing them on the internet and leading newspapers in Liberia.”

He said being in government is an opportunity to serve, not to steal; and promises the creation of quarterly lifestyle audits for all government officials serving in all three branches if elected.

Gongloe noted that salaries and benefits of all officials will be published and aired for public access and corrupt officials will be fired and turned over to the Liberian Anti-corruption Commission (LACC) for further investigation and prosecution.

The LPP torchbearer said he is willing to be the torch-bearer of the corruption sweepers in Liberia, aimed at creating a better Liberia for all Liberians.

“To resurrect the betrayed dream, [it] begins with all Liberians' support and vote for candidates who are willing to summon a new dawn of zero tolerance for corruption and equal application of the law, regardless of one’s status in the society,” he said.

“The 2023 elections provide the opportunity for all Liberians, especially the eligible voters to teach corrupt and abusive government officials a new lesson that government is an avenue to serve, not an avenue for stealing and cruelty to fellow citizens.”

Gongloe, who is also a renowned human rights lawyer, pointed out that elections and conflicts, lack of respect for rule of law, and corruption remain major challenges in Liberia.

In remarks, Lilian Dube, Chairperson of the SFU’s African Studies Department, said Africa is the future of the world, and “we need to hold the torch for the generation of Africa, not Liberia alone.

She described Cllr. Gongloe as the torch of hope and thanked him for his unwavering commitment to justice and human rights.

Meanwhile, Gongloe is scheduled to visit several states in the United States at the invitation of US-based Liberians who are desirous to see the rule of law and good governance prevail in Liberia.