In conversations with friends, I have often argued that Liberia could do without a House of Representatives. Currently, Liberia has a bicameral Legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The House comprises 73 Representatives, each elected from one of seventy-three electoral districts. The Senate includes 30 Senators, with two elected from each of Liberia’s 15 counties. The primary role of the Legislature is to provide oversight. My argument is that the Senate could effectively fulfill this responsibility alone, rendering the House of Representatives unnecessary.
Cost Implications
Over the past three fiscal years (2022, 2023, and 2024), taxpayers have spent over $128 million ($128,349,995) on the upkeep of the House of Representatives. This figure does not include the costs of elections or by-elections. Imagine the impact if this money were redirected to critical sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, and education—areas of urgent need for Liberia.
Do Representatives Truly Represent the People?
A key question arises: Do Representatives genuinely represent their constituents? For most Liberians, the answer is no.
Due to the high number of candidates contesting in many districts—sometimes as many as 10—the winner often secures less than 25% of the votes. This means that 75% of voters would have preferred someone else. A legitimate representative should ideally be elected by at least 50% of the voters in a constituency.
The significant turnover in Representatives from one election cycle to another suggests that many of them fail to meet the expectations of their constituents. This is a strong indication that they prioritize personal gain over public service, leading to their eventual removal.
Addressing Counterarguments
Some may argue that Senators are occasionally elected with less than 25% of the votes. This is a valid point. However, this issue can be resolved by amending the Constitution to require that all Senators secure at least 50% of the vote. A second-round runoff—like the process for presidential elections—could be introduced, allowing the top two candidates from the first round to compete for majority support. This adjustment would ensure that Senators are more representative and accountable to their constituents.
Unicameral Legislature: A Practical Alternative
Eliminating the House of Representatives is not a radical idea. Neighboring countries like Ghana and Sierra Leone operate with a unicameral Legislature, which serves their legislative needs effectively. Liberia’s Constitution was modeled after the United States, which has a bicameral system. However, what the framers of our Constitution may not have considered is that the U.S. can afford such a system due to its substantial financial resources.
Liberia, as a cash-strapped nation, must tailor its governance structures to align with its economic realities. Maintaining a bicameral Legislature is akin to having a taste for wine when your budget can only afford beer. By adopting a unicameral Legislature, Liberia can streamline governance, reduce costs, and redirect funds to areas that directly benefit its citizens.
Call to Action
This idea cannot become a reality without the active participation of the Liberian people. I urge civil society organizations, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens to begin a petition for a referendum on this issue. A referendum would give Liberians the opportunity to voice their opinions and decide whether the nation should adopt a unicameral Legislature.
Civil society organizations have a critical role to play in educating the public about the benefits of such a transition. They can lead awareness campaigns, organize town hall meetings, and engage communities in discussions about how streamlining our Legislature could improve governance and free up resources for development.
The future of Liberia lies in our collective hands. It is time to prioritize the needs of the people over maintaining a costly and inefficient system. Let us start the conversation and take action to bring about meaningful change for the benefit of all Liberians.
About the Author.
Chris Tokpah is the Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness at Delaware County Community College in Pennsylvania. He holds a Ph.D. in Program Evaluation and Measurement, an MBA focusing on Management Information Systems, and a B.Sc. in Mathematics.
Dr. Tokpah also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Research Methods and Statistics in the Ph.D. program at Delaware Valley University. He is also an independent consultant who has participated in or supervised baseline studies and evaluations sponsored by organizations such as the World Bank, IDA, Geneva Global, USAID, and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
He is a co-owner of the Center for Research, Evaluation, and Policy (CENREP), a Liberian consulting firm that specializes in strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation, social science research, and training services. Chris can be reached via email at ctokpah@cenrepliberia.org.
