Counselor Tiawan Saye Gongloe (TSG), has demanded from President Joseph Nyuma Boakai a comprehensive account of his 23-day absence from the country.
Gongloe, an opposition political leader of the Liberian People’s Party, questioned the cost, size, and tangible benefits of the President’s official trip to the United States.
He meanwhile, challenged Boakai to publish the complete itinerary, delegation list, assignments of each delegate, travel dates, total public expenditure, agreements reached and implementation plans arising from the 23-day mission.
Cllr. Gongloe said, transparency over presidential travel would not only strengthen public confidence, but help the government assess whether future foreign missions require similar delegation sizes and extended stays.
Pres. Boakai departed on September 13, and returned on October 6. His trip followed a series of engagements that involved meetings with U.S. congressional officials, the addresses at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, diaspora communities, and a visit to the Maritime Registry.
While Gongloe acknowledged the engagements were legitimate, he argued that the Liberian people have a right to know why the trip lasted 23 days, how much public money was spent, and what concrete benefits the country secured from the extended mission?
He also raised concerns over the size of the official delegation, which included Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti and Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan.
Other members of the delegation were Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, Health Minister Louis Kpoto, Education Minister Jarso Jallah, and Gender Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie.
Also travelled with the President are the National Security Advisor, Samuel Kofi Woods.
Gongloe: “The presence of several senior government officials raises questions about their specific assignments, the length of their stay, and whether their participation was necessary throughout the President’s entire trip?
For thar, he wants the government to provide a clear breakdown of each delegate’s responsibilities, and associated costs, or else, the government has stolen from the Liberian people.
Gongloe further pointed to other African countries as examples.
He noted that several governments have conducted United Nations, diplomatic and diaspora engagements through comparatively shorter, or more targeted programs.
He however stressed how such comparisons do not automatically prove that shorter trips are more effective than an unnecessary overstay trip.
Gongloe cited Cape Verde as a particularly relevant comparison, “because its program included diaspora engagements.”
Cape Verde, he said, unless Boakai and his hand pick officials, combined United Nations diplomacy, official meetings, and diaspora outreach within a shorter announced timetable and with a smaller delegation.
Gongloe said, the comparisons should not be interpreted as evidence that Liberia’s mission failed, rather as a basis for the government to explain what unique responsibilities required the President, and such a large number of senior officials to remain abroad for 23 days?
Liberia, he said, has reported several diplomatic and international engagements, including the launch of the Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, as well as investment and diaspora discussions.
Cllr. Gongloe wants the administration to move beyond descriptions of meetings, and disclose the actual results.
He has meanwhile, demanded answers on whether agreements were signed, how much financing was secured, the terms of any commitments, what investments moved beyond expressions of interest, how many jobs are expected to be created, and when Liberians should expect measurable results.
Gongloe also questioned what commitments emerged from the diaspora engagements, and who within the government has been assigned to follow up on them.
He called for a clear implementation timetable, and periodic public reports so citizens can determine whether promises made abroad are being fulfilled.
He warned against an “at least” mentality. Gongloe argued that simply saying the President met investors, or attended international meetings, is not sufficient to justify public expenditure.
Gongloe: “Every dollar spent on official travel carries an opportunity cost in a country facing serious challenges in education, healthcare, roads, food security and other areas of national development.”
Government’s Response
The government said, “Gongloe’s eyeglasses are so tainted that he cannot see what Boakai came back with.”
Deputy Minister Daniel Sando criticized Gongloe for questioning what Pres. Boakai brought back from the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Sando: “Gongloe’s eyeglasses may be so tainted that he cannot see the benefits of the President’s trip.”
He adds: “The President did not go to a supermarket for people to expect him to return with a suitcase full of items. Maybe Cllr. Gongloe’s eyeglasses are so tainted that he cannot see what the President came with.”
Sando further clarified that during his stay in the United States, Pres. Boakai engaged with Liberians in the diaspora, ranking U.S. officials, global leaders, and investors to attract investment, and promote the overall development of Liberia.
