From Joe Bartuah
Boston, Massachusetts, USA- July 6, 2022–Even though since his arrival in the United States almost two months ago, his activities have mainly been concentrated on the East Coast and the Midwestern region, coupled with a few southern states. Yet, 2023 presidential aspirant Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe’s message of catalyzing comprehensive economic regeneration and national development through prudent policies and cultural integrity is steadily resonating with diaspora Liberians and friends of Liberia from all walks of life.
And so as he prepares to take his message of good governance through equal application of the law to California—the nation’s largest state—it seems that members of Gongloe’s BETTER LIBERIA movement in the westernmost part of the country, are employing every ounce of their creativity to publicize and promote the series of town hall events and other engagement forums that are scheduled for the presidential hopeful in multiple cities in the Golden State.
As a result, on July 4, 2022 when members and officials of the California chapter of Friends of Gongloe Global were observing the 246th Independence anniversary of the U.S. in Antioch, they took part in the parade in that city and shared posters bearing the portraits of Counselor Gongloe with many other parade participants. Several pictures posted on some social media platforms show several Liberians and even non-Liberians holding the photos of Counselor Gongloe.
According to Dr. Tuwe Mehn, one of the organizers of Counselor Gongloe’s western engagements in the state, besides meeting with a cross-section of Liberians in Antioch, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and Sacramento and other cities during his five-day tour of the gigantic state from July 9th to 13th, the presidential aspirant is also expected to hold round table discussions with some local business executives and elected officials within the region.
Since declaring is intention on December 4, 2021 to contest in the 2023 presidential election, Counselor Gongloe’s fierce anti-corruption message, which is symbolized by his iconic broom, with which he intends to metaphorically sweep the filths of pervasive corruption in Liberian officialdom, has been increasingly resonating with a lot of Liberians from diverse backgrounds and even non-Liberians who actually mean well for the country.
Among other things, the eminent human rights lawyer has vowed that under his administration, “the salaries and benefits of the President and all officials of government in the three branches of government shall be published online, and in leading newspapers of Liberia.”
He’s also proposing “quarterly lifestyle audit of the President, all commissioned officials, and others as defined by section 10.1 of the Code of Conduct of 2014.” It is those forward-looking proposals, along with his principle that government jobs are intended for public service, not stealing that are endearing Counselor Gongloe, immediate past president of the Liberia National Bar Association to potential voters in Liberia and friends of the country.
Since his arrival in the country on May 14, 2022, the counselor has met with some federal, state and local government officials, business leaders as well as private citizens, in addition to his hectic engagements with Liberians across the U.S.