Senator Augustine Chea of Sinoe County picks bones with Inter-Religious Council on House of Representatives’ leadership saga.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, Liberia, April 10, 2025 – Sinoe County Senator and Judicial Chair of the Liberian Senate accuses the Inter-religious Council of Liberia of disservice to country and faith, for a purported statement on the prolonged leadership impasse in the House of Representatives.
The Inter-Religious Council is comprised of the Liberia Council of Churches and the Liberia Muslim Council.
Senator Augustine Chea, in a late reply via his official Facebook page to a joint statement issued by the Council questions what he terms the Inter-religious Council’s late opinion and call for action in the impasse at the House.
He wonders why would Bishop Michael Kpakala Francis (late), Bishop George Daniel Brown (late), Bishop Alfred Flomo Kulah (retired), Imam Kafumba Konneh (late) say if they were alive or not retired about the leadership of the Inter-Religious Council today?
Senator Chea argues that they’re foaming, adding that now he knows why the LCC “suspended” Rev. Dr. Samuel B. Reeves as President.
“The Liberia Council of Churches and the Liberia Muslim Council (collectively the Inter-Religious Council) have done a Great Disservice to our Country and their Faiths. Why didn’t they just remain quiet and unconcerned, as they did throughout this crisis, spanning about six months? And what’s the motivation or conviction for coming in at the eleventh hour, especially on the heels of the arguments on the Bill of Information and ahead of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Bill?” Senator Chea asks.
However, the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) and the National Muslim Council Liberia categorically distance themselves from a widely circulated statement that purported to represent their joint position on the impasse.
In a sharp rebuke, LCC Secretary General, Rev. Christopher Toe denounces the statement as “fake,” saying that neither the LCC nor its leadership had any knowledge of or involvement in its drafting or release.
On April 7, 2025, a purported release titled Joint Statement by the Liberia Council of Churches, National Muslim Council of Liberia, and the Inter-religious Council of Liberia said they have been facilitating a dialogue process by the consent of all concerned parties to find an amicable resolution to the leadership dispute in the House of Representatives regarding the Speakership.
The purported statement calls for action, unity and cooperation, noting that in the interest of peace, national pride, and the sustainability of Liberia democracy, the Councils call on the minority bloc to accept the leadership of Hon. Richard N. Koon and collaborate with him to foster inclusivity within the leadership structure of the House and its various committees.
“We extend our gratitude to Hon. J. Fonati Koffa for his service during his time as Speaker”, the statement further reads.
It commends efforts of Nimba County Representative Musa Bility, leader of the Rule of Law Caucus, for his advocacy and urges all stakeholders to summon the courage for peace, reconciliation, and cooperation.
It also appeals to all Lawmakers to return to session and resume the people’s business.
“Let us work together to address and amend the constitutional and procedural gaps that have led to the current challenges to avoid a recurrence. Recommendations: we call for the lifting of suspensions and the legitimate payment of salaries and claims of all Lawmakers, in accordance with the rules and orders of the House of Representatives. However, we recommend that the suspension of Hon. Yekeh Y. Kolubah remains in effect for a period of one year or more, as currently stands, the statement concludes.
But Senator Chea wonders what school of thought informed them or the statement that the President, by a mere recognition, can confer “legitimacy” on a public official occupying an elective office.
He further asks where they got it from or what’s their reliance that the “passage of budget and bills” by the “Majority Bloc” incident to the recognition by the President of Representative Richard N. Koon, as Speaker can confer legitimacy.
“And see how misleading, uniformed, ridiculous, and hypocritical their conclusion is: “The Executive Branch’s decision to conduct official business with elected Speaker Koon, the passage of the National Budget and other significant bills under his leadership, and the recognition extended him by the President…have collectively legitimized his authority as Speaker of the House of Representatives.” What!! That’s exactly the same narrative as the so-called Majority Bloc and some of my Senate colleagues are pushing. Did they tell them to say that, as (the idiom) the last straw of the drowning man? Most likely.” He argues.
Chea contends that neither President Boakai nor the “passage of budget and bills” can confer such legitimacy, adding that the President is not President because somebody recognized him to be so or by sitting somewhere and signing an Executive Order claiming to be the President.
“He was elected by universal adult sufferage and in keeping with other mandatory requirements of the constitution. If he didn’t meet those constitutionally mandated requirements, he won’t be President” he clarifies.
Senator Chea: “So, did the ‘elected Speaker Koon’ or his election and the “removal of Speaker Koffa” meet the requirements of the constitution? An emphatic NO! Here are the standards set by the constitution for the election and removal of a speaker. I quote verbatim: “The House of Representative shall elect once every six years a Speaker who shall be the presiding officer of that body, a Deputy Speaker, and such other officers as shall ensure the proper functioning of the House.”
He notes that the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and other officers so elected may be removed from office for cause by resolution of a two-thirds majority [49] of the members of the House.
“That’s so elementary for the Inter-Religious Council to comprehend. Or do they also hold the mistaken belief that their statement can confer legitimacy? They’re dead wrong like the others.”
But the Inter-Religious Council here vehemently denies authoring said statement, and distances itself. Editing by Jonathan Browne
