Monrovia – The Political Leader of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP), Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe, has expressed frustration over the failure of the Boakai-Koung-led administration to depart from the negative practices of past governments, including fiscal excesses, human rights violations, and disregard for international conventions.
By Obediah Johnson, [email protected]
Cllr. Gongloe described the current administration’s conduct, particularly a large government delegation’s travel to Japan, as nothing short of “legalized theft.”
Appearing on the OK Morning Rush Show on OK FM 99.5 on Tuesday, Cllr. Gongloe said President Joseph Boakai — who campaigned on a promise of a “Rescue Mission” to clean up the excesses of former President George Weah’s administration — is now repeating the same missteps.
“More of the things that happened in the past under the first UP government and CDC government are happening now,” he said.
Cllr. Gongloe specifically cited the ongoing Tokyo trip for the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), where over 23 government officials — and potentially up to 40 — are reportedly part of a weeklong mission. According to estimates, the trip could cost taxpayers upwards of US$192,640, excluding airfare.
“Legalized theft is taking something away from people,” Cllr. Gongloe said. “When you put and look in the budget of more of the top government officials, maybe a very little or less than 20% is left for the Liberian people. I have come to describe some of the things that happened in the Liberian government as legalized theft.”
Under the Revised Travel Law, each delegate is entitled to about US$688 per day in per diem, hotel, and subsistence costs—totaling US$4,816 per person for the trip. Multiplied by 23 delegates, the cost amounts to US$110,768, with the total projected to exceed US$192,000 if the full delegation of 40 participates.
Cllr. Gongloe also criticized the administration for failing to act decisively in the face of questionable deaths and alleged human rights abuses. He referenced the deaths of Melvin Earley, an Executive Protection Service (EPS) officer, and Sergeant Bobby Manneh of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), both of whom were officially declared suicides under suspicious circumstances.
“We cry President Weah down for the death of Melvin Earley, the EPS officer who was reported that he committed suicide by shooting himself three times—which doesn’t make sense to us. Sergeant (Bobby) Manneh was found dead at the Edward Beyan Kesseley Barracks last year and the official statement that came from the AFL said he committed suicide by shooting himself six times. What kind of country is this?” Cllr. Gongloe asked.
He also condemned the deportation of a Guinean refugee under the current administration—similar to a deportation under Weah—arguing that both cases violated international law, specifically the Refugee Convention.
“Why we call ourselves the oldest independent country and the country that was established as an asylum for abuse of human rights?” Gongloe asked. “Extradition is for criminal offenses and not for political offenses.”
He stressed that the Ministry of Justice has no authority to unilaterally order arrests or releases, emphasizing that such powers rest solely with the judiciary or the Legislature.
Cllr. Gongloe, a human rights lawyer and former Solicitor General, noted that he was not surprised by the recent damning 2024 U.S. Human Rights Report on Liberia, but expressed disappointment in President Boakai’s failure to respond to its findings.
“I could never be in a government that will send someone who runs away from his country for fear of prosecution back,” he declared. “As Minister of Justice and with my advice—I couldn’t have done that.”
On political appointments, Cllr. Gongloe revealed that President Boakai once offered him the post of Justice Minister, which he declined in favor of his running mate, Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo.
“I felt that between Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo, my running mate, and I, he (Urey) needed to go into government more than I needed. Leadership requires that you be selfless,” Gongloe said.
He said he advised President Boakai not to recycle former ministers from past administrations but to elevate younger deputies and assistant ministers who could prove their worth and show that the administration was serious about real change.
“If I were in the government, I would have resigned by now,” Cllr. Gongloe added.
In recent days, President Joseph Boakai has faced mounting criticism for leading a large delegation to Japan for TICAD9 and the Osaka Expo. Critics argue that he is repeating the very practices he and the Unity Party condemned during the administration of former President George Weah and the Coalition for Democratic Change.
However, Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah, who is also part of the delegation, dismissed the criticisms before the team’s departure. He defended both the size and the purpose of the mission to Japan, insisting it is in the best interest of the country.
“President Boakai has not left this country to stay out for 58 days. He did not do it to watch a football game. He has not left this country with a delegation of 50 persons,” Minister Piah said. “We don’t want to go into those kinds of things. The country has to make progress. What Mr. Weah and his government did what the other people did—let us not try to draw the former president into those kinds of stuff. We can establish that the variables are not the same.”
Minister Piah emphasized that Liberia’s participation in TICAD9 and the Osaka Expo is critical for the country’s development, investment promotion, and international cooperation.
“Every government throughout the world participates. Except you are looking for development, investment, opportunity—then you stay away. That’s how important it is,” he said.
Minister Piah revealed that Liberia has appointed former Ambassador Julie Endee as Commissioner General for the Osaka Expo and that ministries including Foreign Affairs, Commerce, and Information are all involved in the event.
“When we leave the TICAD Summit, that will have all the leaders who are concerned that their country will make progress, then we go to the Osaka Expo. Then we will come back,” Piah explained.
He defended the inclusion of multiple officials, saying their presence is essential to fulfilling Liberia’s role and interests at both events.
“All the officials who you saw listed are part of the trip—it is because of their role and what they have to do to ensure that we get some dividends from these two international engagements. Trade relations among nations are very important,” Minister Piah stated.
While acknowledging that the benefits may not be immediate, Minister Piah insisted that such trips are necessary for Liberia’s long-term economic interests.
