Former Presidential candidate, Cllr. Taiwan Saye Gongloe says nations are usually not constructed by prayer and fasting; fairly, it’s political will that brings transformational modifications.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, Liberia; August 1, 2025 – The political chief of the Liberian Folks’s Occasion (LPP), Cllr. Taiwan Saye Gongloe has sharply reacted to President Joseph N. Boakai’s Nationwide Day of Prayer, noticed right here as a public vacation on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, arguing that nations are usually not constructed by prayer and fasting, however fairly by political will that brings transformational modifications.
In accordance with him, Liberia at this essential time wants political will and transformative action-oriented management, as a substitute of a nationwide quick and prayer declaration from President Boakai.
Cllr. Gongloe talking Thursday, July 31, 2025, in an interview, he argued that from 1847 to 2025, Liberia has remained closely depending on the export of uncooked supplies, particularly wooden, rubber, iron ore, gold, and diamonds.
He mentioned that after 178 years of independence, this sample has not modified, and that regardless of being blessed with wealthy pure assets, Liberia continues to be one of many poorest international locations on the earth.
“We have now been a praying and fasting nation, even earlier than our independence in 1847. Church buildings and mosques will be present in practically each city and village throughout Liberia. And whereas prayer and fasting are good, they alone are usually not sufficient. What Liberia urgently wants is political will and transformative action-oriented management! It’s typically mentioned. “Heaven helps those that assist themselves. So, nations are usually not constructed by prayer and fasting, however political will and transformational management motion.” He said.
In the meantime, the LPP political chief famous that different African international locations are making progress and displaying the best way for Liberia to comply with that aren’t utilizing prayer and fasting for nationwide improvement transformation.
He named Botswana, Mauritius, Cape Verde, and Seychelles as amongst Africa’s least corrupt nations, whereas Rwanda and Burkina Faso are investing in native processing, tourism, and public service accountability.
Cllr. Gongloe additional named Ghana and Morocco as international locations including worth addition to cocoa, cashews, phosphates, and textiles, whereas constructing industrial parks and decreasing unemployment.
He indicated that almost all of those international locations are creating jobs, decreasing poverty, including worth to their assets, and respecting the rule of regulation and human rights, however sadly, Liberia lacks political will, transformational management, and declaring a nationwide quick and prayer day.
Accordingly, he mentioned that these international locations have confirmed that sturdy management, good governance, and nationwide imaginative and prescient can remodel even small or landlocked international locations.
“True improvement additionally requires upholding human rights, strengthening establishments, making certain equal safety beneath the regulation, and adopting efficient anti-corruption methods — not simply praying and fasting. Corruption have to be fought with transparency, enforcement, and nil tolerance at each stage.” Cllr. Gongloe pressured.
He advisable that Liberia wants a authorities that may lead it to shift from prayer to planning, from fasting to factories, and from sermons to technique.
The previous president of the Liberia Nationwide Bar Affiliation believes that Liberia can develop into a hub for eco-marine tourism, local weather finance by carbon credit, and value-added exports like furnishings, plywood, bottled water, metal, polished diamonds, refined gold, different processed minerals, and agro-products.
He lamented that Liberia stays caught in poverty as a result of the nation retains exporting uncooked supplies and importing completed items, one thing he believes has stored the nation poor and dependent.
“We want a authorities that acts, not simply kneels; a authorities that builds, transforms, and empowers, not simply fasts. Sure, Liberia wants a authorities that works and does extra for its folks than one which solely prays. We would like our authorities to steer us to transformative actions, not simply to the church buildings and mosques, as a result of heaven helps those that assist themselves! The time for motion is now.” He identified.
Cllr. Gongloe, additionally a former Solicitor Basic of Liberia, argued that Liberia just isn’t poor by nature; as a substitute, it’s poorly managed, including that this nation is richly endowed with fertile soil for agriculture, because it has over 40% of the rainforest of the Gulf of Guinea.
“Huge deposits of gold, iron ore, and different minerals; freshwater sources able to supporting bottled water exports. Pristine seashores from Cape Mount to Cape Palmas. Mangrove swamps are necessary for marine life and fish copy. Mountains for climbing, climbing, and eco-tourism; and good nature and resilient residents on the lookout for path from their leaders”, he concluded.
However Info Minister Jerolinmek Piah mentioned those that criticized the President’s name for a one-day nationwide prayer for the state, “have no idea God.” Enhancing by Jonathan Browne
