Monrovia – The ongoing political rift in the 55th House of Representatives of Liberia continues to deepen as the Majority Bloc has formally rejected key recommendations made by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mediation team.
This response comes after weeks of escalating tension and legislative maneuvering aimed at addressing accusations leveled against the current Speaker of the House.
The controversy began on October 17, 2024, when 47 members of the 55th House of Representatives signed a resolution citing Articles 33 and 49 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia to cast a vote of no confidence in the Speaker.
The resolution sought the Speaker’s immediate and unconditional removal, claiming that his actions contravened the House’s standing rules and procedures, as well as the Constitution and organic laws of the Republic.
The resolution was met with obstruction when the Chairman on Rules, Order, and Administration shut down the legislative chamber, prompting the Majority Members to convene in a joint chamber to continue their activities.
According to the Majority Bloc, six key legislators including Representatives Alex J. Grant, Johnson Williams, Prince Toles, Samuel N. Brown, Anthony Williams, and Samuel G. Kogar brought forth specific complaints about the Speaker’s alleged violations, arguing these actions undermined the integrity of the House.
In a bid to resolve the impasse, ECOWAS dispatched a high-profile mediation team, led by Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, to Monrovia. The delegation held several meetings with the contending parties, both in the Capitol Building’s joint chamber and at the Boulevard Palace Hotel, Sinkor Monrovia.
Following these engagements, ECOWAS proposed a six-point roadmap aimed at restoring order and enabling legislative functions to continue smoothly, adding that the complaint against the Speaker should be formally dispatched to him by the Majority Members.
ECOWAS, in it’s recommendation wants the Speaker to respond in writing and recuse himself from presiding over sessions during the investigation, all members return to the main chamber for plenary sittings., the Deputy Speaker preside during the investigation while an investigation be be concluded within two weeks.
ECOWAS is also recommending that the security and decorum should be maintained for all members during the proceedings.
Meanwhile, in an official response issued by Majority Bloc through it’s Chairman Samuel G. Kogar, Chairman affirmed their stance on the matter, rejecting Count 3 of the ECOWAS proposal, which called for a return to the main chamber.
However, the Majority Members accepted the remaining points, which they claimed of already initiating before the ECOWAS intervention.
According to Representative Kogar, the Majority Members had passed a legislative motion on November 12, 2024, presented by Hon. Steve Tequah of River Cess County, directing that:
The complaint be formally served to the Speaker, the Speaker should step aside and undergo an investigation by a special committee, the Speaker be granted due process, and the investigation should not exceed two weeks.
The in it’s response, the Majority Bloc wants the Deputy Speaker to preside over the plenary during the investigation, while the special committee’s findings be submitted to the plenary in accordance with the Constitution and the House’s rules.
Additionally, Hon. Kogar noted that the Supreme Court of Liberia, the ultimate judicial authority under Article 66 of the Constitution, had already affirmed the legitimacy of the Majority Members’ sittings in the joint chamber, reinforcing their actions.
The Majority Bloc expressed appreciation for ECOWAS’s efforts, underscoring the importance of regional peace and legal adherence. “The Majority Members appreciate the efforts of the ECOWAS Mediation Team thus far. We look forward to continuous working relations to promote peace, harmony, and the rule of law within the sub-region,” stated Hon. Kogar.
The current stalemate has cast a shadow over the legislative process, leaving many Liberians to question how this impasse will impact governance and the country’s political stability in the coming weeks. The outcome of the investigation and further deliberations will determine whether the House can move past this period of discord and resume its normal legislative duties effectively.
