Since then, there has been a deepening legislative rift at the House of Representatives as the pro-Koffa bloc and anti-Koffa bloc continue to hold separate sessions.
MONROVIA – The political leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander Benedict Cummings, has called on lawmakers at the House of Representatives to resolve the ongoing stalemate that has stalled the operations at the lower chamber.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
It can be recalled, a coalition of anti-Koffa lawmakers, led by Representatives Samuel G. Kogar of Nimba County District #5 as Chair, are demanding the immediate resignation of House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa. The lawmakers accused Speaker Koffa of gross corruption and financial mismanagement, alleging he misappropriated millions of dollars during his tenure as Deputy Speaker and now as Speaker.
Since then, there has been a deepening legislative rift at the House of Representatives as the pro-Koffa bloc and anti-Koffa bloc continue to hold separate sessions.
For the third week, the bloc loyal to Speaker Koffa last week failed to achieve quorum. With only 29 lawmakers present and one absent, Speaker Koffa’s bloc was unable to advance any agenda items. Meanwhile, the rival Majority bloc, numbering 43 members, met in the joint chambers, signaling its growing strength and intensifying its efforts to unseat the embattled Speaker.
Cummings, meanwhile, said the impasse has left the country in a looming political and constitutional crisis, negatively impacting the democracy and the economic development of the Liberians.
He stated that the uneasiness at the House of Representatives has also placed the legislative function of government in a state of operational paralysis.
He noted that “despite the advice of the Supreme Court, through a Conference of the parties held recently in the Chamber of Justice Yemie Gbeisay, to amicably resolve the crisis in keeping with Due Process, both sides remained adamant and dug-in their respective positions.”
Cummings emphasized that the stalemate in the House of Representatives is a threat to what he called the nascent democracy, while also posing a significant challenge to constitutional order.
He urged lawmakers to respect the rule of law and the Constitution while they pursue their legitimate concerns, stating that these are cornerstones of democracy and economic development. “Without respect for the Constitution and rule of law, the nation cannot claim to have stability,” he said.
He stated that instability in the country would discourage foreign investment, ruin donor confidence and erode the citizens and residents trust in the protection quarantined by the Constitution and laws of Liberia. “It goes without saying that politics without guidance of the law will only invite chaos and undermine development.”
The former presidential candidate is therefore urging all parties to the conflict in the House of Representat
ives to put the interest of the Country and the Liberian people high above any and all other considerations by seeking recourse through the Constitution and laws which they have sworn an oath to uphold and defend.
According to Cummings, it behooves both Branches of the Executive and Judiciary to act to resolve and not complicate the current crisis.
He maintained that the speedy resolution of the current stalemate in the first Branch of Government will not only demonstrate leadership at home but will project a positive image abroad that we are a responsible member of the comity of nations capable of resolving our governance challenges without external intervention.
