Monrovia – Prominent Liberian lawyer and human rights advocate Tiawan Saye Gongloe has weighed in on recent remarks made by former Mines and Energy Minister Wilmot Paye, calling them a brave and necessary exposure of the “pervasive influence of mining cartels” in Liberia.
Paye, who was relieved of his post months ago, recently made a series of startling revelations about the mismanagement of Liberia’s mineral wealth. While Gongloe did not detail every claim, he endorsed Paye’s broader warning: that Liberia is not inherently a poor nation, but has been crippled by a profound failure of leadership.
“My junior brother, Wilmot Paye, bravely highlights the pervasive influence of mining cartels in Liberia and brings to light a critical and often overlooked reality: Liberia is not inherently a poor nation,” Gongloe said in a public statement. “The true obstacle we face is the significant deficiency in effective and responsible leadership.”
Gongloe drew a stark contrast between Liberia and Botswana—a country that has successfully transformed its diamond wealth into widespread prosperity. He lamented that Liberia continues to export raw resources like gold, iron ore, diamonds, timber, and rubber, only to import poverty in return.
“Consider this: our abundant natural resources generate wealth that flows into economies across the globe. So why are they not being utilized to create world-class schools, hospitals, quality roads, thriving factories, and ample job opportunities for the people of Liberia?” he asked.
The lawyer urged Liberians to watch, listen, and reflect deeply on Paye’s revelations, asking whether the root of the nation’s struggles lies in its natural resources or in how those resources are governed.
“If the citizens of Botswana can reap the rewards of their natural wealth, there is no reason why Liberians cannot do the same,” Gongloe asserted. “We have the potential to shift our trajectory for the better, but that opportunity lies in our hands.”
He concluded by framing the upcoming 2029 election as a decisive moment—not merely a political contest, but a fundamental choice about who will truly benefit from Liberia’s vast wealth. “Let us choose wisely, and let us strive for a future where all Liberians can thrive,” Gongloe said.
