By Myean D. Torgbean, August 3, 2025| Monrovia, Liberia
An Assigned City Solicitor at the Ministry of Justice has raised alarm over what he describes as a growing sense of injustice and economic neglect within the country’s prosecutorial arm, taking particular aim at Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) Commissioner Patrick Honnah for allegedly flaunting money during a public celebration.
In a statement issued over the weekend, Garpue K. Wonlue, who is currently assigned at the Omega Magisterial Court, condemned the Commissioner’s lavish display of wealth during the recent birthday celebration of Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah.
According to Cllr. Wonlue, the extravagant financial gestures by Commissioner Honnah are tone-deaf and damaging in a country where, he says, “90% of City Solicitors and Prosecutors are not on government salary or payroll.”
“In a poor country where many struggle financially especially state prosecutors who are volunteering their services without pay this kind of display can be perceived as insensitive and hurtful,” the City Solicitor wrote.
Wonlue warned that such actions could breed discontent and erode public trust, particularly among unpaid public servants.
Growing Frustration in the Justice Sector
The City Solicitor’s statement adds to growing concerns about the lack of compensation for legal professionals serving in local courts across the country. While Liberia continues to grapple with budgetary constraints, legal practitioners like Wonlue say they feel neglected and undervalued despite playing a vital role in the justice system.
He outlined three major concerns arising from public displays of wealth by government officials:
1.Exacerbating Inequality: The stark contrast between high-ranking officials and struggling civil servants could deepen social divisions and provoke frustration.
2.Social Tension: Flaunting money publicly, especially during celebrations, may appear disrespectful to ordinary Liberians and could lead to unrest.
3.Undermining Governance: Wonlue warned that such behavior contradicts the image of a serious government striving to regularize the payroll and improve conditions for all public servants.
“This attitude does not only create divisions within the communities, but it also embarrasses a serious-minded government that is struggling to place all its volunteers on salary and increase the wages of those earning less,” he emphasized.
A Call for Responsibility
The Prosecutor called on Commissioner Honnah and other government officials to exercise greater empathy and discretion in their public conduct, particularly in light of the country’s economic hardships.
“It’s essential to be mindful, Commissioner Honnah, of the impact of your actions on others,” he urged. “Let us promote a sense of empathy and understanding.”
Cllr. Wonlue’s remarks have since circulated across social media and local platforms, fuelling fresh debate about wealth inequality, governance ethics, and justice sector reform in Liberia.
Source The Town Square
