By Lincoln G. Peters
Former Presidential Candidate Cllr. Taiwan Saye Gongloe has shared critical insight and a presentation on a strategy plan to migrate Liberia’s path from raw materials export to real development.
Cllr. Gongloe also frowned at Liberia’s 178th Independence celebration, with poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment unaddressed.
Addressing scores of diaspora Liberians based in Australia via a hybrid, the Liberian lawyer said that given the level of underdevelopment and poverty that has existed in Liberia since its independence, he is compelled to begin asking a question: What kind of country is this?
Cllr. Gongloe averred that a country that declared its independence in 1847 started exporting palm oil, pepper, wood, and cassava even before its independence. In 2025, 178 years later, it is still exporting raw logs, raw rubber, raw iron ore, raw gold, and Raw diamonds.
“We cut down trees but buy desks from overseas. On this day, I have chosen to speak to the Liberian citizens and people of Liberian descent residing in Australia — and the greater Liberian diaspora — on the topic: “From Raw Materials to Real Development: A Time for Transformational Leadership,” he stated.
Commenting on the recent dedication of the Concentrator plant by Liberia’s steel giant, ArcelorMittal, he said that it’s very sad that after 178 years of Independence, Liberia will be celebrating the dedication of a concentrator plant as breaking news instead of a steel plant.
The professor of Law pointed out that Liberia mines iron ore, but imports iron ore products.
“Why is Liberia not building a steel plant instead of another iron ore concentrator?
Liberia had a concentrator and pelletizing plant before its civil conflict. The breaking news should be a steel plant, not a concentrator. Why is Liberia still importing sanitary gloves when we produce natural rubber? Why is Liberia not adding value to its gold and diamonds? Until Liberia changes the quality of its exports, it will remain underdeveloped and poor. There will continue to be a high level of unemployment because we export jobs, high-paying jobs, by exporting raw materials.” He lamented.
Cllr. Gongloe believes that in a country like Liberia, reconciliation, unity, and lasting peace are impossible.
“Because mass poverty creates mass hunger, a country with many hungry people is an angry nation. And anger is the main source, if not the only source of violence, thereby undermining internal peace and security.” He concluded. -Edited by Othello B. Garblah.
