Gongloe Demands Account of Boakai’s U.S. Trip

MONROVIA, October 9, 2026 — Prominent Liberian human rights lawyer Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe has called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to provide a comprehensive public account of his recent 23-day visit to the United States, demanding details of the trip’s cost, delegation size and tangible benefits to the Liberian people.

Gongloe said the government must explain why the President spent more than three weeks abroad accompanied by several senior officials at a time when Liberia faces serious economic challenges and competing demands for public resources.

In a statement issued following President Boakai’s return on October 6, the former presidential candidate insisted that citizens have a right to know how public funds were spent and what the country stands to gain from the visit.

“Mr. President, welcome home. The Liberian people deserve a full account of what your journey accomplished and how it will improve their lives,” Gongloe said.

President Boakai departed Liberia on September 13 and returned on October 6, spending approximately 23 days outside the country.

His itinerary reportedly included meetings with members of the United States Congress, participation in the 81st United Nations General Assembly, engagements with Liberians in the diaspora and a planned visit to the Liberian Maritime Registry.

While acknowledging the importance of these engagements, Gongloe questioned whether they justified the length of the visit and the number of senior government officials involved.

“These are legitimate activities. Yet our government is under a legal obligation to explain their duration, cost and benefits to the Liberian people,” he stated.

According to Gongloe, the announced delegation included Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah, Health Minister Dr. Louise Kpoto, Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, Gender Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie and National Security Advisor Samuel Kofi Woods.

He noted that the delegation included six cabinet ministers and the National Security Advisor, excluding security personnel, protocol officers and other accompanying officials.

“What assignment required each person’s presence, and for how long? This question is important because Liberia is listed among the fifteen poorest countries in the world,” Gongloe said.

The lawyer argued that the government should disclose the complete delegation list, individual assignments, travel dates and total public expenditure associated with the trip.

He maintained that such disclosure would help citizens determine whether the resources committed to the visit were justified by its diplomatic and economic objectives.

To support his argument, Gongloe compared President Boakai’s trip with the participation of several African leaders in the United Nations General Assembly.

He cited Botswana, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cape Verde and Rwanda as examples of countries whose leaders or senior representatives reportedly undertook shorter missions or traveled with smaller delegations.

According to him, Botswana announced President Duma Boko’s participation from September 19 to 26, with a delegation involving officials responsible for foreign relations, health, minerals and energy, and youth and gender affairs.

He said Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in New York on September 21 and was reportedly back home by September 27.

Gongloe also cited the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was represented by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka and Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, supported by diplomatic personnel.

He noted that Somalia and the DRC, like Liberia, hold non-permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, arguing that Liberia’s membership alone does not explain the duration of President Boakai’s visit.

Liberia and the DRC are serving on the Council for 2026–2027, while Somalia’s term covers 2025–2026.

Gongloe further pointed to Cape Verde, whose announced mission reportedly ran from September 20 to October 1, with a scheduled return on October 2.

He said the Cape Verdean delegation also held diaspora engagements in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, demonstrating that meetings with citizens abroad could be incorporated into shorter official missions.

Rwanda, he added, was represented by Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva, while Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe participated in bilateral meetings and diaspora engagements.

“These comparisons do not prove that every shorter mission achieved more. They establish that Liberia’s arrangements deserve a specific explanation,” Gongloe emphasized.

“Diaspora meetings and diplomatic responsibilities are shared activities; the government must explain what required 23 days abroad and the participation of so many senior officials,” he added.

Despite his concerns, Gongloe acknowledged that the Liberian government reported several diplomatic activities during the visit, including the launch of Liberia’s Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

He also recognized reports from the Executive Mansion concerning investment discussions, diplomatic engagements and meetings with Liberians residing in the United States.

However, he insisted that announcing meetings and diplomatic engagements was insufficient without explaining their expected outcomes.

“Let the government explain the commitments secured and the practical benefits expected from them. What agreements were signed? What financing was committed, and on what terms? Which investments advanced beyond expressions of interest?” Gongloe questioned.

He further demanded information on anticipated employment opportunities, commitments made during diaspora engagements and the government’s timetable for implementing agreements reached during the visit.

Gongloe argued that while diplomatic benefits may take time to materialize, the government must distinguish between preliminary discussions, firm commitments and projects that have actually entered implementation.

He also called for clarity on whether announced financing represents binding commitments or funds already received by Liberia.

The human rights lawyer criticized what he described as an “at least” mentality in evaluating government performance, arguing that merely holding meetings with potential investors should not be presented as sufficient justification for public expenditure.

“The ‘at least’ mentality must end. ‘At least the President met investors’ is an inadequate standard for assessing public expenditure. Citizens need to know the benefits of those meetings,” he declared.

“Every dollar spent abroad carries an opportunity cost for schools, hospitals, roads, food sufficiency and other needs at home,” Gongloe added.

He urged President Boakai to publish a complete report covering the itinerary, delegation membership, assignments, travel expenses, agreements reached and timelines for implementing commitments arising from the visit.

“We have no doubt, Mr. President, that consistent with the right of the people to know, you will shortly publish the complete itinerary, delegation list, each delegate’s assignment and travel dates, total public expenditure, agreements and implementation timetable,” he stated.

Gongloe maintained that public accountability should not be viewed as an attack on the presidency but as an essential obligation of democratic governance.

He said transparency would enable the government to assess its spending priorities, improve official travel practices and ensure that limited public resources are directed toward national development.

His statement adds to public scrutiny of the President’s extended visit, particularly questions surrounding the size of the delegation and the financial implications of overseas travel.

The government has reported diplomatic, investment and diaspora engagements during the visit, but Gongloe is demanding a detailed accounting of the expenditures and measurable outcomes.

— The New Dawn

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