Monrovia – The call by Majority Bloc Speaker Richard Koon to recall Liberian parliamentarians from the ECOWAS Parliament was a key topic of discussion during Tuesday’s session at the ECOWAS Parliament, with parliamentarians from various countries urging the Speaker to disregard Koon’s request and retain the current Liberian representatives.
By Selma Lomax/[email protected]
Last week, the Majority Bloc in the Liberian House of Representatives elected three new lawmakers to represent Liberia at the ECOWAS Parliament, effectively replacing key allies of embattled Speaker Fonati Koffa.
The move, which followed a white-ballot election, has been seen as part of a growing power struggle within the House of Representatives over control of Liberia’s representation at the regional body.
The new delegates elected by the Majority Bloc include Moima Briggs Mensah (Bong County District 6), Augustine Chiewolo (Lofa County District 5), and Samson Q. Wiah (Sinoe County District 2). They replace Rev. Samuel Enders and Taa Wongbe, who were appointed under Speaker Koffa’s leadership.
The decision to replace the representatives follows a ruling by the Majority Bloc, led by Koon, which invalidated the previous appointments and called for a fresh election. Lawmakers Johnson S.N. Williams and James Kolleh had formally challenged the validity of Koffa’s appointments, claiming they were made unilaterally and without plenary approval, violating legislative procedures.
Despite the Majority Bloc’s decision, many lawmakers, both current and former, have expressed opposition to the recall, citing ECOWAS Rule 5. This rule specifies that once a member of the ECOWAS Parliament has taken the oath of office, their country cannot recall them, except in specific circumstances such as resignation, incapacity, or misconduct.
“It is not possible to replace your representatives once they have taken their oath, unless they are no longer a member of the body that sent them,” one lawmaker said, requesting anonymity.
ECOWAS Rule 5 states that a representative’s mandate lasts for four years, and once a member has taken the oath, they cannot be removed or replaced unless they no longer meet the requirements or are removed for gross misconduct.
Liberia’s senior-most representative at the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Edwin Snowe, has openly opposed the recall, warning that ECOWAS operates independently and is not bound by the decisions of individual member states. “The ECOWAS Parliament is governed by its own rules, and not even the current ECOWAS Chairman, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, can enforce such a recall,” Snowe said. He urged Liberian President Joseph Boakai to stay out of the controversy, warning that the dispute should not be used for political retribution.
On Tuesday, the ECOWAS Parliament officially acknowledged the receipt of a communication from the Liberian House of Representatives regarding the replacement of Liberia’s representatives at the regional body. Koon had instructed the Chief Clerk to communicate the decision to the ECOWAS Parliament, and the letter was confirmed by Hauwa Bello Aliyu, the Committee Clerk, who said the letter would be forwarded to the Secretary-General of the ECOWAS Parliament.
During the session, Hon. Abdul Kargbo of Sierra Leone emphasized the importance of adhering to ECOWAS rules, stating that once a representative takes the oath of office, their home country has no right to recall them.
“I want to categorically state here that the very clause in the Supplementary Act of 2016 should not be circumvented, and the members of Parliament from Liberia who have subscribed the oath should not be recalled by their home country,” Kargbo said.
“ECOWAS should be distinct from the internal politics of our different home countries. We should not be seen as supporting governments in doing what they want to do, especially regarding representation in this parliament.”
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume of Nigeria echoed Kargbo’s sentiment, emphasizing that a member of the ECOWAS Parliament cannot be recalled by their home country unless they lose their citizenship or violate the assembly’s rules.
“It is very clear in our rules,” Ndume said. “Once a member is part of this community, unless they do something wrong before us, they should not be withdrawn.”
In addition, Hon. Sheriff Saar of Gambia noted that the current dispute centers on the constitutionality of the recall, arguing that any change in leadership should be negotiated and based on constitutional grounds.
“The whole issue here is about moral authority. The constitution mandates the speaker to remain in office unless there is a constitutional reason for them to step down,” Saar said.
This election of a new delegates is part of the Majority Bloc’s broader effort to overturn all appointments made by Speaker Koffa. The bloc accused the Speaker of bypassing the House rule that requires elections over appointments—a process they claim was tainted by political maneuvering and a lack of transparency.
However, Speaker Koffa, along with the Rule of Law Caucus, argue that the Majority Bloc’s actions are illegal. While the Majority Bloc and its leader, Rep. Koon, await a response from the ECOWAS Parliament, the Koffa-appointed lawmakers are currently enjoying overwhelming support from their colleagues.
