Lawyers Describe Cllr. Gongloe as ‘Congenial Candidate’ in Bar Presidential Election

Monrovia – Leading human rights lawyer Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe has announced his candidacy for the position of president for the Liberia National Bar Association election slated for Saturday, November 31, 2018 in the port city of Buchanan.

And many of his colleagues have described him as a “congenital candidate” going against two other candidates.

This will be Cllr. Gongloe’s second time contesting for the post. The first time, was in 2016 when he lost to current president Cllr. Moses Paegar; he came close to sealing a win.

This time, Cllr. Gongloe will be challenged by two other candidates: incumbent LNBA Vice President Bima Lasana and Swahilo Sesay.

However, several legal luminaries who spoke to this paper on the condition of anonymity have rated Cllr. Gongloe as the one suitable to win the LNBA Presidency because of his outstanding works over the years as a leading human rights defender. 

“We feel that Cllr. Gongloe is the best that will move the LNBA forward after the tenure of Cllr Paegar ends,” said one lawyer, who spoke to FPA on condition of anonymity. 

According to the manifesto issued over the weekend by the LNBA Presidential Candidate, he is a graduate of the Loius Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia who was admitted to the Montserrado County Bar Association in 1988 and subsequently admitted to the Supreme Court Bar as Counselor at law in 1994.

He owes his law practice and interest in human rights and public interest law through a mentorship provided by two outstanding Liberian lawyers Cllrs. Laveli Supuwood and the late Francis Garlawolo.

The manifesto further stated that Cllr. Gongloe law practice covers all legal services in Liberia. 

The public best knows him for his defense of the “poor people and those faced with challenging legal situations” that most lawyers fear because of the potential risks for retaliatory oppressive action from government or powerful forces in the Liberian society. 

He has also held several positions in government: Executive Assistant to the then Interim President Amos Sawyer, former Solicitor General and former Labour Minister as well as other international assignments to include, UN Observer Mission in South Africa, Electoral Consultant, Carter Center, Ethiopia. 

Locally and internationally Gongloe has received several accolades for his works as a human rights lawyer. At home, he has received awards as lawyer of the year, human rights advocate from the Inquirer Newspaper, and many other media entities in the country from the 1990s to 2002 and from 2011 up to present.

On the international scene, Cllr. Gongloe has received a batch of awards including United States Human Rights Defender 2003, Human Rights Watch, Philip Randolph Institute Freedom Award among several others.

As an Executive Member of the LNBA, contest the Presidency, if elected Saturday, November 31, 2018 promises to produce the LNBA Journal as an avenue for promoting legal education and scholarship for LNBA Members as well as secure an insurance for LNBA Members and continue legal aid and legal education for the general public.