Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe, the political leader of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP), has criticised Liberia’s development challenges, citing a dangerous mix of ignorance, arrogance, and low expectations among leaders and citizens.
In a Facebook post titled “The ‘At Least’ Mentality in Liberia – Part 2,” Cllr. Gongloe described Liberia as a naturally gifted country with “small ambitions and lowered standards.” According to him, the inability to demand quality in government and public service has fostered mediocrity.
Cllr. Gongloe clarified that ignorance in Liberia is not a lack of intelligence, but rather a lack of civic awareness and national consciousness. He observed that many residents have been trained to accept pain, inadequate public services, and corruption as routine, while fundamental government obligations are regarded as amazing successes.
“This is why a hand pump is celebrated as a miracle, a short stretch of road is called development, and a bag of rice is mistaken for leadership,” he noted. He also added that individuals who do not understand their rights cannot demand better government.
Gongloe criticised public officials for their arrogance, focussing on leadership. He said that such hubris causes leaders to ignore counsel, perceive criticism as hostility, and see public posts as personal property rather than public trust. He cautioned that arrogant leadership mixed with an uneducated public is a lethal recipe for national downfall.
Gongloe’s thesis focused on the “at least” mentality, which he believes contributes to Liberia’s underdevelopment. He noted frequent popular reactions such as “at least one street was fixed” or “at least the leader shared something,” emphasising that applauding little accomplishments assures sluggish and insufficient growth. “A nation that celebrates crumbs will never enjoy a banquet,” Gongloe declared.
The LPP political leader refuted the notion that Liberia is cursed, citing other African countries that have achieved tremendous progress via responsibility, discipline, and strong institutions. He cited Botswana, Rwanda, Namibia, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Seychelles, and Burkina Faso as examples of Thomas Sankara-era countries whose progress was fuelled by a leadership philosophy and public aspirations rather than chance.
Gongloe advocated for a national shift in standards, including investing in civic education, cultivating humility in leadership, and rejecting a culture of low expectations. He emphasised that no country can flourish if citizens have low expectations and leaders feel they owe the people nothing.
“A better Liberia is possible,” he said, “but only if we reject the ‘at least’ mentality and insist that we deserve better.”
