Monrovia, Liberia – A longtime supporter of liberalization, Cllr. made a direct challenge to Liberia’s political elite and customers. By buying locally grown rice from Liberian farmers and advising Liberians to cease “acting foreign” if they are serious about developing the country, Tiawon Gongloe has transcended hyperbole.
Cllr. addressed media at a hotel in Monrovia on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, following the purchase of five bags of locally grown Liberian rice. Gongloe stated that he was motivated by a recent News Newspaper piece about the struggles of a local rice farmer in Lofa County.
He stated that after reading the report, he made direct contact with the farmer, purchased five bags of locally grown rice, paid with mobile money, and scheduled delivery to Monrovia for the following week. “We cannot keep talking about Liberianization without backing it with money. In Liberia we say, put your money where your mouth is. If we don’t buy Liberian rice, farmers will be discouraged,” he noted.
Using the occasion, the well-known Liberian lawyer urged the President, ministers, government officials, opposition politicians, members of civil society, and regular people to consciously purchase Liberian-made goods, beginning with rice, contending that consumer behavior rather than speeches determines whether local production survives.
Additionally, the political head of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP) asserted that the market is the true engine of growth, saying that a producer can only increase production when consumers increase their purchases. Others will invest in Lofa once Liberian rice farmers begin to make real money. That’s how the history of foreign rice is made.
Cllr. Gongloe expressed his disappointment at a recent agricultural fair in Ganta, Nimba County, where many farmers reportedly returned home with unsold goods despite the event being formally opened by the President. He criticized what he called a lack of seriousness by public officials in promoting agriculture.
“I went from table to table and bought what I could, US$5 here, US$10 there,” he said. “But too many products went back unsold. Agriculture cannot be a slogan. Ministers should be there, buying, encouraging, leading by example.”
He presented his message as a continuation of his New Year’s call for Liberianization, claiming that he has long lived up to his beliefs by using apparel, workout mats, and household goods created in Liberia, as well as by eating farina and country rice. The political leader of the LPP emphasized that everyday decisions, not speeches, should demonstrate national pride.
Additionally, he expressed worries about the age and quality of imported rice, arguing that locally grown rice is fresher and more nutrient-dense. He claims that Liberia spends more than US$200 million a year on rice imports, money that ought to be spent locally.
“Think Liberia, love Liberia, build Liberia must show in our conduct,” he stressed. “We cannot say Liberia first and spend our money building other people’s countries.”
Regarding accountability, citing ethical and legal constraints, the renowned Liberian attorney declined to personally pursue legal action regarding the government’s implementation of Liberianization policy. Rather, his approach for 2026 focused on public awareness, campaigning, and setting an example.
“This is the first time I am making my rice purchases public,” he said. “If leaders show by example, people will follow.”
Cllr. Gongloe narrated that with a direct appeal: “Liberia will rise again only if we make it rise, by buying Liberian, supporting Liberian farmers, and believing that what we produce is good enough for us.”
