Former Senate Pro Tempore Albert Tugbe Chie of Grand Kru County has called on the Liberian Senate to revisit and resubmit eight proposed amendments to the 1986 Constitution, marking a renewed push for constitutional reform.
Initially presented in the national referendum on December 8, 2020, these amendments failed to meet the two-thirds majority required for enactment despite receiving majority support from participating voters.
In a formal communication to Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence and other members of the Senate, Senator Chie advocated for a comprehensive review of the proposed changes and their reintroduction in another national referendum. He emphasized the critical need for a well-funded public awareness campaign to educate citizens about the amendments’ significance and potential impact on governance.
The proposed amendments aim to address key governance and electoral reforms. Among the measures is an amendment to Article 28, which seeks to guarantee the inalienable citizenship of natural-born Liberians and permit dual citizenship. Other proposals include reducing the terms of senators, representatives, and key legislative officers, limiting the tenure of the Senate Pro Tempore to five years, and shortening the President’s term from six years to five years.
Additionally, the amendments propose moving the date of general elections from October to November, citing weather-related challenges affecting voter turnout, and expediting the resolution of electoral disputes by reducing the timeframe from 30 to 15 days.
In his letter, Senator Chie underscored the importance of these reforms in strengthening Liberia’s democratic processes. He urged the Senate to thoroughly examine the proposed amendments, make necessary adjustments, and initiate the process outlined in Article 91 of the Constitution to prepare for a new referendum.
A lack of voter awareness, insufficient civic education, and political divisions were widely blamed for the failure of the 2020 referendum. Critics argued that the process lacked transparency and failed to involve the public in meaningful dialogue adequately. Senator Chie stressed the importance of addressing these shortcomings, urging the Senate to ensure a robust, well-funded voter education campaign that engages all stakeholders and communicates the implications of the proposed reforms.
The path forward is complex, as constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority vote from the legislature before being presented to voters in a national referendum. However, Senator Chie expressed optimism that the proposed reforms stand a more substantial chance of success with greater public awareness and political cooperation.
