The Speaker of the House of Representatives has launched a parliamentary diplomacy initiative to champion governance reforms in Liberia.
Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon reaffirmed the Legislature’s commitment to governance reforms, constitutional amendments, and stronger accountability, while deepening cooperation with international partners.
Speaking last Friday at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, Speaker Koon said the House is prioritizing constitutional reform, gender inclusion, and improvements to Liberia’s electoral framework.
He noted that proposed reforms include reducing tenure for elected officials, electing local government leaders, and reviewing constitutional provisions governing Liberian citizenship.
The Speaker also disclosed that the House plans a stakeholder engagement on March 26 to review constitutional amendments with partners, including the World Bank Group and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission.
The Speaker highlighted internal reforms within the Legislature, including the creation of an internal audit department and collaboration with the General Auditing Commission to strengthen financial oversight and institutional transparency.
He announced that lawmakers across the Mano River region are working to operationalize the Mano River Union Parliament, with the first sitting expected in May to address regional issues- border conflicts and cooperation.
According to the Speaker, the regional parliamentary platform will provide lawmakers from member countries an opportunity to meet regularly and deliberate on cross-border challenges affecting the Mano River basin.
He further appealed for support from development partners to strengthen legislative capacity, particularly through the establishment of a specialized secretariat to review concession agreements.
Speaker Koon said the proposed body would function similarly to existing technical structures assisting lawmakers in analyzing audit reports submitted by the General Auditing Commission.
For his part, the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Representative Nehker Gaye, explained that the engagement was organized to expand parliamentary diplomacy and strengthen collaboration between Liberia’s Legislature and the diplomatic community.
Responding on behalf of the diplomatic corps, the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corp, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cameroon, Amb. Beng Yella Augustine Gang, praised growing stability within the Legislature and encouraged continued harmony to strengthen cooperation with international partners.
United Nations’s Christine N. Umutoni said the UN remains ready to support Liberia’s national priorities, particularly in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening governance and accountability systems.
