Monrovia – Veteran Liberian politician and economist, Dr. Togba-Nah Tipoteh, has joined the national debate surrounding the recent Supreme Court ruling, calling for full adherence to the Court’s decision and urging Liberians to uphold the rule of law over political expediency.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
In a statement release amidst heightened tensions in the Legislature, Dr. Tipoteh emphasized that the Supreme Court’s April 23 ruling is a reaffirmation that Liberia is a nation governed by laws—not by force or political manipulation.
“The Supreme Court of Liberia ruled that Liberia must be governed by the Rule of Law and not by the rule of outlaw,” he said. “This means that Liberia must be governed by the Constitution. The people of Liberia agree with the Supreme Court because they know that governance by the Rule of Law is governance in the right direction.”
The Supreme Court, ruling on a Bill of Information filed by House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, declared that the attempt by the majority bloc to remove Koffa while he was present and not incapacitated was unconstitutional. The Court called on the House of Representatives to act in accordance with the Constitution.
Despite the ruling, members of the rival bloc led by Representative Richard Nagbe Koon rejected the decision. In a public statement, Koon described the Court’s judgment as “atrocious” and claimed it exceeded the Court’s constitutional limits. Another vocal member of the majority bloc, Representative James Kolleh, went a step further, threatening impeachment proceedings against the Justices of the Supreme Court.
President Joseph Boakai, in a national address on Thursday, said his administration would abide by the Court’s decision but insisted on working with a functioning quorum to avoid government paralysis. The statement has since triggered widespread criticism from legal experts and opposition leaders, who argue that the President’s stance undermines the authority of the judiciary.
Although Dr. Tipoteh did not directly criticize President Boakai, he stressed that the Court’s decision must be respected by all arms of government and the citizenry alike.
“The people of Liberia demonstrated their commitment to change and justice when they voted on October 10, 2023, removing most legislators who sought re-election,” he said. “This was not accidental—it was the result of growing awareness among the electorate.”
Dr. Tipoteh argued that raising public awareness is the most effective means of transforming Liberia’s governance system from one of injustice to one rooted in justice. He linked this approach to a broader continental movement aimed at eliminating poverty and corruption through civic education and democratic participation.
“Awareness-raising is the only and best way to reduce and prevent corrupt practices, including those within the National Elections Commission,” Tipoteh noted. “It is also the path to electing people with good records.”
He emphasized that although some credible candidates were not elected in 2023 due to limited awareness, the momentum for change is growing in Liberia and across Africa.
“The spread of awareness will continue,” he concluded. “It is the surest way to secure good governance and sustainable peace.”
