MONROVIA – Gongloe and Associates Law Firm’s Senior Partner, Tiawan Saye Gongloe, says the exclusion of the Sarpo people from the governance structure of Liberia is tantamount to “injustice”; therefore, it must not be encouraged or condoned by any regime or president.
He stated, among many things, that the hurt to a tribe, like the Sarpo, is among some of the injustices that can bring about civil war in a country, and Liberia is not exempted, questioning how a tribe can live in shadow without being recognized.
Gongloe made these comments recently when he was honored and gowned by the Sarpo tribe in Sinoe County, and by extension, by the community’s organization called the Sarpo Appoliebo Development Organization (SADO) situated in the Capital, Monrovia.
He said Sarpo is one of those Liberian ethnic-speaking groups that cut across the length and breadth of Liberia. Therefore, denying or excluding them from the governance structure of the country is a complete violation of human rights because those are some of the things that can bring about conflict in a country.
“It is shameful for a tribe not to be recognized by its government. Every tribe in this country (Liberia) originated or migrated from somewhere, mainly from Sudan in East Africa, before coming to the southern and western parts of the continent in the 4th or 5th century,” Gongloe reflected.
Regarding the honor bestowed on him, he stated that though he is not a wealthy man, he always feels proud or satisfied whenever people honor him or his law firm because of the pro bono or legal service they provide to the needy who are fighting against injustices.
The honor bestowed on Gongloe and Associates Law Firm is not a surprise. For the past two years, the firm has been representing the legal interests of the Sarpo people or community at the Supreme Court against the Central Bank of Liberia in a legal battle.
The ceremony was attended by an array of prominent Sarpo people in Montserrado County, including Richard S. Panton, Nathaniel Jallah, Theresa Wylie (Sarpo Governor), Lucy Jardiah-Slojue (Chairlady), George Garteh (Chairman of SADO), Moses Pyne, among others.
Sarpo Tribe Drags CBL To Court
On Wednesday, 23 August, the Sarpo tribe brought a lawsuit against the Central Bank of Liberia for a “declaratory judgment” regarding a particular specification lacking on the L$1,000 banknotes.
According to the tribal people, the bank did not insert the cultural masks that represent the tribe on the L$1,000 banknote, as was done with other tribes of Liberia.
The Sarpo people alleged the bank’s failure to recognize the tribe as one of the 16 recognized tribes by their cultural mask adorned on the Liberian Dollar banknote.
In the writ issued, then the court commanded the sheriff of Montserrado County, or their deputy, stating, “You are hereby commanded to summon the above-named defendant(s) or respondent(s) in the above-captioned case to appear before the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court for Montserrado County, sitting in its June term A.D. 2023, on the third Monday in June, A.D. 2023, at the hour of 10:00 A.M., to answer to the complaint or petition of the above-named plaintiff(s) or petitioner(s); that upon his, her, or their failure, judgment by default will be rendered against him, her, or them.”
It continued: “You are further commanded to notify the said defendant(s) or respondent(s) to file his, her, or their formal appearance and or answer in my office on or before the second day of September, A.D. 2023.
The writ was received and signed by Doris M. Dweh, the Executive Secretary to the governor, on Wednesday, August 23. The 12-count writ was prayed for against the bank by the petitioners, through their legal interest, the Gongloe and Associates Incorporated in Monrovia.
In their petition, the Sarpo tribe, which is the second-largest, next to the Kru tribe in Sinoe County, said that the bank was fully aware and had reason to know that the Sarpo tribe is one of the tribes in Liberia, prior to the printing of the new L$1,000 banknote.
Quoting the 2008 population census, Liberia has 16 tribes, and Sarpo people constitute 1.2 percent of the population, which is the latest tribe that has been added in acknowledgment to this fact.
Furthermore, the government, through the Ministry of Education, has revised and updated its history and civic curriculum, with the Sarpo tribe now added as one of the tribes of Liberia.
Historicizing, the petitioners say three separate maps of Liberia, drawn in 1937, 1849, and 1862, recorded the Sarpo as a tribe in Liberia.
Additionally, Professor Willie Shultz, author of The New Geography of Liberia, published in 1973 and approved to be taught in all Liberian schools, also mentioned in his book that Krahn, Grebo, and Sarpo tribes crossed the Sassandra River in Ivory Coast to settle in present-day Liberia.
The petitioners request the court to rule and declare that they as citizens or a tribal group of Liberia have the right to be recognized, just as the other sixteen tribes are recognized, and their cultural masks are adorned on the LD$1,000 banknote.
The Sarpo tribe is found in over 6 sections in Sinoe County and is accounting for 1.3 percent of the country’s present population of 5.2 million, a result of the 2022 and 2023 National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) held by the government.
Their petition is supported with a resolution from the tribal group with these submitting signatories of Kpanyoun Philip Wakocco as the lead campaigner; Siah C. Chen as Secretary, and approved by George Garteh, National Chairman of the Sarpo Appoliebo Development Organization (SADO), and Governor, Theresa Wylie.
Also, those who signed for the respective section of the county were Joe S. Nyenpan as Chairman of Wedjah; Polaty Polson as Chairman of Juarzon; Philip S. Doe as Chairman of Seekon; Milton Jargbah as Chairman of Putu; Robert Kumorteh as Chairman of Numopoh; and Quiah S. Wylie as Chairman of Carbadae, all for the Monrovia-based community.
While for the Sarpo youth based in Monrovia and its surroundings or environs, those who signed were Robert C. Toteh of Seekon; Linda Quiah of Numopoh; Emmanuel Tugbah of Juarzon; Prince Teiah of Wedjah; Emmerson Saydee of Carbadae; and Darius Lewis.