Monrovia, Liberia- The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has issued a strong call for the Liberian government to fully implement the recent Supreme Court ruling that invalidated actions taken by a contested group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives.
In a statement released on Monday, CENTAL criticized the ongoing legislative standoff, which has dragged on for more than six months, describing it as a costly political crisis that has undermined public trust and effective governance.
The group condemned lawmakers for prioritizing internal power struggles, including attempts to unseat Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, over addressing urgent national issues.
CENTAL pointed to accusations of corruption, a fire at the Capitol, and the swift passage of the 2025 budget under controversial circumstances as signs of dysfunction.
On April 23, the Supreme Court ruled that all legislative actions carried out by a group of lawmakers led by Representative Richard Koon, including his self-declared speakership and suspension of others, were unconstitutional, as Speaker Koffa was neither absent nor incapacitated.
The ruling affirmed that only sessions presided over by the legitimate Speaker are constitutionally valid.
CENTAL, however, expressed concern over mixed reactions to the ruling.
CENTAL noted that while Speaker Koffa accepted the decision and pledged to seek unity, Koon and his faction have openly rejected it.
President Joseph Boakai, in his public address, appeared hesitant to fully embrace the Court’s mandate, suggesting he would continue to work with any legislative quorum available, a stance CENTAL says weakens constitutional order.
“Failure to clearly support the Supreme Court’s ruling and continued dealings with the Koon bloc send a troubling message. It undermines rule of law and democratic progress in Liberia,” CENTAL stated.
The organization also criticized the legislature’s long-standing failure to enact a rule allowing the Speaker to compel lawmakers to attend sessions, a constitutional mandate left unfulfilled for nearly four decades.
CENTAL argued that until such a law is established, members of the Koon bloc must voluntarily comply with the Court’s decision and participate in sessions led by Speaker Koffa, or formally initiate his removal in line with legal procedures.
CENTAL acknowledged the Koon bloc’s recent petition for re-argument as an admission of the Supreme Court’s authority.
However, the organization insisted that the existing ruling must be honored unless officially overturned by the Court.
The civil society group further urged the judiciary to treat governance-related disputes with the same urgency given to election cases, noting that delays in issuing rulings, particularly on the December 2024 Bill of Information, had contributed to the current impasse.
In closing, CENTAL urged the legislature to serve as a model of constitutional adherence, and called on President Boakai to reinstate Speaker Koffa’s authority and sever ties with the Koon bloc pending further direction from the Court.
“The law must be respected,” the statement read. “There can be no shortcuts in the democratic process.”
