By Lincoln G. Peters
MONROVIA, Liberia, August 13, 2026 — Liberian People’s Party (LPP) political leader Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe has criticized President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s performance in agriculture, healthcare and the rule of law, saying the administration has failed to make sufficient progress in the three sectors.
Speaking at a press engagement Thursday, Gongloe, whose LPP backed President Boakai during the 2023 presidential runoff, urged the President to take stronger measures to reduce Liberia’s dependence on imported rice and improve healthcare and adherence to the rule of law.
Gongloe said he influenced his party’s decision to endorse Boakai during the runoff because the LPP believed he was better positioned to implement elements of the party’s 10-Point Transformative Agenda.
However, he said the LPP made clear at the time that its support would not prevent the party from criticizing the administration whenever it believed the government was failing or neglecting its promises.
The former Labor Minister recalled that during the 2023 presidential campaign, Boakai pledged to reduce rice imports and move Liberia toward self-sufficiency in food production.
He said expectations were particularly high because Boakai had repeatedly emphasized his experience in agriculture, including his previous service at the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation and the Ministry of Agriculture.
“In the areas of health, agriculture and rule of law, the government is making no progress. President Boakai has failed and is failing in these areas,” Gongloe said.
He argued that Boakai’s performance in agriculture should ultimately be judged by whether Liberia becomes more self-sufficient in rice production and substantially reduces imports.
“If President Boakai, at the end of his six years, does not make Liberia food self-sufficient in rice production or drastically cut down the importation of rice, then he has failed,” Gongloe said. “President Boakai says agriculture is his area, and that is what we know him for.”
He urged the President to take concrete steps to reduce the country’s reliance on imported rice.
Gongloe compared the expectations surrounding Boakai’s agricultural credentials to those placed on former President George Weah in football.
He said Liberians expected significant improvements in football under Weah because of his international career in the sport, but argued that the country failed to achieve major competitive success despite the construction of stadiums and sports parks during his administration.
Turning to healthcare, Gongloe said the continued movement of Liberians to Ghana, India and other countries for medical examinations and treatment indicates that significant weaknesses remain in the domestic healthcare system.
“As long as Liberians are still going to Ghana, India and other countries, not only for medical treatment but for medical checkups to ascertain what is happening in their bodies, the President is failing in health because there is no improvement in the health sector,” he argued.
Gongloe said progress should be reflected in Liberia’s development of the capacity to provide more diagnostic and medical services locally, thereby reducing the number of citizens traveling abroad for services that could be available at home.
On the rule of law, the former President of the Liberian National Bar Association and former Solicitor General accused the administration of failing to fully respect legal protections surrounding tenure positions.
He cited disputes over the removal and suspension of officials occupying tenure-protected positions and referenced previous Supreme Court decisions concerning presidential authority over such officials.
“The Boakai and UP government has removed people from tenure positions without respecting the law,” Gongloe alleged, also pointing to recent developments at the Independent National Commission on Human Rights.
He argued that tenure provisions were established partly to insulate certain public institutions and integrity bodies from political interference and should therefore be respected by successive administrations.
Gongloe also criticized the performance of the Liberia National Police in enforcing traffic and public safety regulations, citing concerns about unregistered vehicles, seat-belt enforcement and road safety.
“The police performance is poor when it comes to public safety,” he said, arguing that stronger enforcement of traffic regulations could help reduce road accidents.
Despite his party’s support for Boakai during the 2023 runoff, Gongloe said the LPP intends to continue publicly assessing the administration and speaking out where it believes the government is falling short of its commitments.
