A Liberian advocacy group, Campaigners for Change, says attempt to remove Speaker Koffa is a constitutional coup d’etat, threatening to protest if the law is breached.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, Liberia, November 1, 2024 – Liberian Rights activists and Executive Director of Campaigners for Change, Vandalark Patrick, terms action of rebel lawmakers seeking to oust Speaker J. Fonati Koffa a constitutional coup d’etat while threatening a mass citizens’ protest here if members of the House of Representatives failed to uphold constitutionalism and respect decision of the Supreme Court.
Addressing a news conference in Monrovia on Thursday, October 31, 2024, broadcast live on Prime FM, Activist Patrick said the majority bloc’s deliberate action and attempt to violate the Constitution by forcing the Speaker to resign is a bad precedent.
He notes that Article 9 of the Liberian Constitution empowers the House of Representatives to elect its officials to preside but with a caution to remove.
However, Patrick argues that Article 39 of the Constitution provides that all rules adopted by the legislature shall conform to due process of law, as enshrined in the Constitution, adding that it has been realized that requirement to remove the Speaker must be in consonant with Article 29 & 38 of the Constitution and the House’s rules.
He underscores the importance of the allegations brought against Speaker Koffa. All Liberians should appreciate the now 43-member majority bloc, which has decided to put the law into perspective and should remain with it.
He continues that under Liberian law, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty, adding that the public is urging members of the majority bloc to respect the law and accord due process to the Speaker.
He notes that the House has chosen to use the political method to remove the speaker over the rule of law, something he describes as a deliberate attempt to abrogate and circumvent the Constitution.
“Fellow Liberians, recently, we witnessed what looks like a constitutional Coup d’etat with respect to the violation of our constitution by some members of the House of Representatives. However, as a Liberian and rights activist who has defended the Constitution of Liberia for the past fifteen years, I believe it’s time to put the country on the right trajectory. Therefore, in the coming days, we will announce a mass citizens’ protest if the majority bloc refuses to appear or honor the ruling of the Chambers Justice by obeying the Constitution.”
Patrick stresses that their action to uphold the dignity and Constitution of Liberia is above political parties, adding that they are acting in defense and line with morality and the Constitution while alarming that what is happening at the House of Representatives speaks volumes.
He cautions lawmakers that Liberia has not fully recovered from its brutal civil past, so they must uphold the law to maintain the sanity of the state. Editing by Jonathan Browne
