Monrovia – After nearly three months of a leadership crisis marked by acrimonious claims and counterclaims, members of the House of Representatives appear exhausted and are leaning toward reconciliation and unification.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
The impasse began when a group of lawmakers initiated a resolution to remove Speaker Fonati Koffa, accusing him of corruption and conflict of interest. Failing to secure the constitutionally required two-thirds majority, the group leveraged its numerical strength to abandon the main chamber and hold sessions in the Joint Chamber. There, they declared the Speaker’s seat vacant, elected Representative Richard Koon as their Speaker, dissolved committees established by Speaker Koffa, and suspended seven lawmakers for 30 session days without pay.
The pro-Koffa bloc sought intervention from the Supreme Court, but its ruling did not resolve the crisis. Earlier, an ECOWAS mediation mission also failed to settle the impasse. The situation worsened when a fire engulfed the Joint Chamber used by the Majority Bloc.
Currently, the House remains divided, with the Majority Bloc, under Rep. Koon, asserting legitimacy and conducting the House’s affairs. Meanwhile, the pro-Koffa group, lacking quorum, continues to contest the legality of their colleagues’ actions.
A Call for Reconciliation
Amid the stalemate, both factions appear willing to seek common ground. Acting Speaker, Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, serving as presiding officer of the Majority Bloc ain the absence of their Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, announced plans for a reconciliation retreat aimed at healing divisions within the House.
“Considering the stalemate that engulfed the House prior to our extension, for the third quarter, as it is said the teeth and tongue can fuss, but they remain dutiful and together to work for the common good of their master. We have an obligation to the Liberian people for which we took oath. In this time, I am proposing to the leadership through the committee on Rules, Order and administration, to prepare a retreat for the House of Representatives to mend the broken wounds. the propose retreat should not be limited to lawmakers only, but inclusive of our staff. We can have a genuine reconciliation to trash out our differences,” Rep. Fallah, Deputy said.
He acknowledged that the impasse had affected all parties and urged lawmakers to prioritize the Liberian people’s interests over personal victories.
“It is not about winning; it is about putting the Liberian people’s interest. These that things that happened in the past. We know that we have some issues there. If those issue are resolved, we will go. They have come back to join our colleagues,” he said.
Dramatic Shift
The reconciliation effort gained momentum when four pro-Koffa lawmakers—Representatives Sumo Mulbah, Priscilla Cooper, Ellen Attoh Wreh, and Romeo Quioh—joined the Majority Bloc during a session at Monrovia City Hall, where legislative sessions are currently held.
Speaking shortly before his departure to Ghana, Rep. Koon welcomed his colleagues and said it was time to unite.
Plea for Pardon
Amid the call for reconciliation, Rep. Prince Toles urged his colleagues to lift the suspension of the seven lawmakers.
“I respectfully request that plenary lift the suspension of our colleagues for December 2024. This gesture, especially during the festive season, would embody unity and empathy,” Toles wrote in a letter to the Majority Bloc.
He continued: “As we have entered the festive season, a time dedicated to family and community support, I strongly advocate for our colleagues to receive their full salaries and benefits for December 2024, after which their suspensions can be resumed in January 2025. This action would enable them to fulfill their responsibilities to their families, communities, and constituents during this significant time of the year. Such a gesture would not only reflect our commitment to supporting one another as colleagues but also embody the values of empathy, unity, and solidarity that we, as representatives of the people, hold dear.”
His plea, however, received mixed reactions. While some lawmakers supported the idea, others argued that any pardon should not cover December, as the month had already elapsed. Ultimately, the plenary voted to reject the request.
Rule of Law Caucus Steps In
As the Majority Bloc announced plans for reconciliation, the Rule of Law Legislative Caucus scheduled a press conference to address the leadership impasse and advocate for constitutional principles and legislative independence.
Caucus Chairman Musa Hassan Bility emphasized the need to restore normalcy and ensure representatives effectively perform their duties.
“The challenges before us as leaders of this country are immense, and the leadership of the House of Representatives is facing significant trials,” he said I a message on his Facebook page. “I am fully aware of the burden placed on me by this responsibility, and I embrace it with commitment and resolve. My focus will be to restore normalcy to the House and ensure that every representative can carry out their constitutional duty to represent their people effectively.”
Bility further committed to upholding the rule of law and fostering a spirit of cooperation among his colleagues, emphasizing the need to prioritize the Liberian people’s needs over individual interests. “I pledge to lead faithfully, to listen to my colleagues, and to work toward our collective goals and aspirations,”
Challenges Ahead
Despite signs of reconciliation, unresolved issues remain potential stumbling blocks. These include the suspension of seven lawmakers, denial of their benefits, and the Majority Bloc’s insistence on evicting Speaker Koffa from his office without a Supreme Court ruling on his bill of information.
However, observers say the Majority Bloc’s plan for a reconciliation retreat and the Rule of Law Caucus’s commitment to dialogue signal hope for resolving the three-month-long crisis that has paralyzed the House of Representatives.
