–Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe Warns Pres. Boakai
Former presidential candidate and an advocate of good governance, rule of law and democracy, Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe, has warned President Joseph Boakai and his administration officials to stop unnecessary lavished spending that do not benefit the people.
In his op-Ed, titled, “Stop Wasting Money for Official Comfort: A National Reflection for the Weekend,” Cllr. Gongloe says it is now clear how the Boakai administration intends to prioritize wasteful spending. “…When schools, hospitals and communities urgently need support, official comfort must give way to public necessity…,” he noted.
He reminded President Boakai that public money is for public and for the people, not to entertain the comfort of government officials.
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“A government’s priorities are revealed by how it spends public money. When schools, hospitals and communities urgently need support, official comfort must give way to public necessity. Frugality is a duty owed to the people, not an option based on the discretion of a leader.
“As an advocate and a politician, I believe silence in the face of wasteful spending is complicity. We must always be reminded by the great scientist Albert Einstein, who said, “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.” Pointing out governmental missteps is a way of demanding accountability and helping the government to focus on promoting the welfare, safety and common good of the people.
“The IMF’s recent approval of approximately US$50.16 million in financing for Liberia came with advice to the government to reduce unproductive expenditure and create room for priority infrastructure projects. While the IMF also acknowledged progress in economic management, it is important to note that recognizing progress does not diminish the need to examine spending that may be unnecessary or excessive.
“We must not continue “business as usual” while seeking external financing and asking citizens to endure difficult conditions. Expenditure criticized under previous governments deserves the same scrutiny under this one.
“President Boakai’s United States trip may have produced useful diplomatic and other benefits. He left Liberia on September 13, 2026, to address the United Nations General Assembly on September 24. Media reports state he will return on October 6, 2026, making his trip longer than those of other African presidents. According to media reports, President Duma Boko of Botswana, for example, left his country on September 19 and returned on September 26.
“President William Ruto of Kenya arrived in New York on September 20 and returned to Kenya on September 26. These countries are more developed and richer than Liberia. But their leaders seem to be spending their countries’ money more wisely than ours. Nevertheless, the government should explain the duration of the trip, delegation size and total cost, and show concrete results. Extended stays abroad require justification, particularly when the journey is not a state visit. The people have a constitutional right to know. Liberia’s Security Council membership does not, by itself, justify a prolonged presidential stay. The Democratic Republic of Congo, a fellow non-permanent member of the Security Council, was represented at UNGA by its prime minister, not its president.
“Avoiding wasteful spending must also apply at home. I have personally counted more than 20 vehicles in President Boakai’s convoy. On different occasions, I have counted 13, 14 and 15 vehicles in Vice President Koung’s convoy. In each convoy, I counted two VIP vehicles. These observations raise a legitimate question: how many vehicles are necessary for security and official duties?
“From my own recollection, President William R. Tolbert’s convoy had three vehicles, while Vice President D. Bennie Warner had one official vehicle and one police motorcycle escort. Although he resided at the Executive Mansion, President Tolbert often slept in Bentol and travelled to work at the Executive Mansion.
“Security arrangements must respond to actual risks. Even so, every additional vehicle carries costs for purchase, fuel, maintenance and personnel. The government should demonstrate why those costs are necessary. The example of restraint I witnessed deserves reflection, especially when today’s unmet public needs make frugality even more urgent.
“I also urge President Boakai to move into the Executive Mansion to reduce avoidable residential and commuting costs. Given that Liberia is among the 15 poorest countries in the world, government’s vehicle purchases and other official benefits should meet reasonable standards of necessity and affordability.
“Money saved from avoiding waste should help improve education, health care, food security and infrastructure, as well as strengthen civil servants’ salaries and benefits, and reduce reliance on deficit financing. Borrowing carries repayment obligations; unnecessary expenditure is a burden for citizens tomorrow.
“The Rescue Mission and ARREST Agenda must be reflected in spending decisions. Government should publish the costs of major trips, explain their outcomes and demonstrate restraint through its own conduct.
“Public money belongs to the people. Their needs must take priority over the comfort of those entrusted to serve them.”
