PHOTO: Outgoing LNBA President Gongloe being greeted and honoured
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
GANTA, Liberia- “Under my administration the LNBA became self-reliant in carrying out its activities and implementing its projects,” said Cllr. Tiawon S. Gongloe, the outgoing President of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) after leading the Bar for the past 3 years during the National Convention here in the northeastern Nimba County.
During his three years tenure at the NBA and also during his earlier post as Liberia’s Solicitor General, Cllr. Gongloe boasted over the weekend that he had returned all balance monies given to him, both on foreign and local trips as a means of tackling corruption.
He made the statement at the opening of the Bar convention, which was also his last speech as President of the LNBA at a local hotel in Ganta.
Cllr. Gongloe said that it very important to be transparent in all that you do in your life journey.
The program was held under the Theme: Corruption: A threat to peace and the Rule of law.
He said It is important to note that for the first time, the LNBA hired an external auditing firm, Mombo and Co. following competitive bidding to audit his administration as a means of transparency and accountability.
The human rights lawyer and outgoing president of the LNBA added that he has directed the Executive Director of the LNBA to release the report of the audit to members of the LNBA on line.
He borrowed words of the Late LNBA President TC Gould, non-debatable facts.
“This record was made first on the basis of leadership by example, not by just talking. Here is what I mean. On my first trip to the Nigeria as President of the LNBA to attend a meeting of the Governing Council of the African Bar Association, I was given US$1000 by the LNBA for any unexpected expenditure.
During the trip I used only US$183 because my hotel and other expenses were covered by the African Bar Association, except for my trip from Abuja to Lagos and hotel bill for the one night I spent in Lagos before my departure for Liberia. I returned to the LNBA US$817. Last week, I retuned US$480 to the LNBA from my trip to the Gambia from the US$500, having used $20 as security fee at the Banjul Airport on departure, and yesterday, I retuned the entire US$1000 that I received from the LNBA last week for my trip to Lome, Togo at the invitation of the Economic Community Court of Justice because all of my bills were paid by the court,” Cllr. Gonloe said in his speech.
“Change by any leader is only effective when he does what he says. Mahatma Gandhi put it succinctly when he said, “Be the Change you want to see in the world”. I have done my part it is now time to leave. But I appeal to all members of the LNBA not to let this record end with my administration but should continue.
This is a record that all lawyers must be proud of and not only maintain, but must support all subsequent administrations of the LNBA to improve upon,” the outgoing President of the Bar added.
The Bar conference was attended by over 500 lawyers.
Also attending the occasion were the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Francis S. Korkpor, and other members of the Bench including Justices Jamesetta Howard Wolokolie, Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuchi and Honor Yassif D. Kaba.
A marching band and traditional leaders and mask dancers were also on hand to add color to the ceremony.
At the program, Cllr. Gongloe was presented a portrait by the Nimba Bar Association in honor for his numerous contributions during his service at the LNBA.
For her part, Associate Justice Wolokolie, urged those who will win the Bar election to coordinate and corporate with the Supreme Court Bench in dispensing Justice and be fair in all they do.
Justice Wolokolie
She said most often, lawyers can’t make themselves available for the work they were elected for.
The Supreme Court Justice, who earlier proxy for the Chief Justice before his arrival in Ganta, added that there is no way the Judiciary can work without the cooperation of the LNBA.
According to Justice Wolokolie, the LNBA needs a president who will coordinate with both the Judiciary and the executive branches of government.
The Associate Justice maintained that lawyers corporation should be about Justice and fairness.
Also speaking at the opening of the LNBA convention was Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, head of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission who pledged his institution support to the LNBA because it is an integrity institution and will some seek advice from the LNBA during some criminal investigation.
Cllr. Martin called on the Gongloe-led LNBA administration to make the financial report available to members of the Bar and an audit should not done by him alone.