President Joseph Nyuma Boakai will on today deliver his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) to the National Legislature at the Capitol Building in Monrovia.
The Liberian leader is expected to report to the nation about its present economic, political, and social condition while summarizing the accomplishments of his first year in office and revealing plans and programs of government for the new year up to the end of his term.
The president will throw special light on the gains, challenges and prospects of key sectors including health, education, infrastructure, security, agriculture amongst other vital sectors contributing to the overall stability of the state.
Leading to today’s SONA, there has been a series of controversies surrounding the event where uncertainty was hanging over the venue of the SONA with less than a week to plan.
Presidential Press Secretary Madam Kola V. Fofana disclosed earlier on that there was yet no “venue” for the event while the Senate released a statement informing the public that the SONA will be held at the capitol. This was due to the present impasse at the House of Representatives and the subsequent arson attack on the joint chambers of the capitol that should be the legal venue for the hosting of the SONA.
To make matters worse, several lawmakers under the canopy of the Rule of Law Legislative Caucus announced a boycott of the SONA after reaching a unanimous decision.
The Rule of Law Caucus is a conglomerate of lawmakers against the illegal removal of embattled House of Representatives Speaker J. Fonati Koffa by members of the Majority Bloc and the subsequent election of Representative Richard N. Koon as new speaker of the august body.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Rule of Law Caucus Chairman Musa Bility said the decision was not made lightly; it reflects their deep concerns over the ongoing erosion of legislative independence and the increasing interference of the Executive Branch in the affairs of the Legislature.
Bility said the Executive’s recognition of Richard N. Koon as Speaker, despite the legitimate Speaker still being in office, is a blatant violation of democratic principles and legislative autonomy.
“This unprecedented action does not only strip the legitimate Speaker of his authority and dignity but also humiliates the Legislature as an institution. Attending the SONA under such circumstances would amount to tacit approval of this illegitimacy—a position we categorically reject,” he said.
Several persons, including lawyers, have questioned the legality of the SONA if it should be convened under the gable of controversial Speaker Koon as the presiding officer of a joint session of the legislature.
But according to a dispatch published by the legislature, the ushering of guests to the President’s ANNUAL MESSAGE will begin at 𝟐:𝟑𝟎 𝐩.𝐦., and end at 𝟑:𝟓𝟎 𝐩.𝐦. GUESTS will enter the Grounds of the Capitol through the entrance of the House wing, while ONLY Members of the 55th Legislature will enter through the front entrance of the Capitol.
𝐀𝐭 𝟐:𝟓𝟎 𝐩.𝐦., the Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia will announce the arrival of Members of the Consular Corps.
𝐀𝐭 𝟐:𝟓𝟓 𝐩.𝐦., the Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia will announce the arrival of Heads of International Organizations.
𝐀𝐭 𝟑:𝟎𝟎 𝐩.𝐦., the Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia will announce the arrival of their Excellencies, the Doyen and Members of the Diplomatic Corps.
𝐀𝐭 𝟑:𝟎𝟓 𝐩.𝐦., the Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia will announce the arrival of the Dean and Members of the Cabinet.
𝐀𝐭 𝟑:𝟏𝟎 𝐩.𝐦., the Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia will announce the arrival of Former Heads of State, Former Vice Presidents, Former Speakers, Former Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia and Former Presidents Pro-Tempore: ALL PRESENT WILL RISE.
𝐀𝐭 𝟑:𝟏𝟓 𝐩.𝐦., the Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia will announce the arrival of Her Honor, the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia: ALL PRESENT WILL RISE.
𝐀𝐭 𝟑:𝟐𝟎 𝐩.𝐦., the Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia will announce the arrival of the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives: ALL PRESENT WILL RISE.
𝐀𝐭 𝟑:𝟐𝟓 𝐩.𝐦., the Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia will announce the arrival of the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia/President of the Senate and Members of the Senate: ALL PRESENT WILL RISE.
The Vice President of the Republic of Liberia will take the Chair at the left of the Speaker, and Members of the Senate will take seats reserved for them. Both Houses will then be resolved in Joint Session.
𝐀𝐭 𝟑:𝟒𝟓 𝐩.𝐦., the Sergeant-At-Arms of the Honorable House of Representatives will announce the opening of the SECOND JOINT SESSION OF THE 55TH LEGISLATURE.
𝐀𝐭 𝟑:𝟓𝟎 𝐩.𝐦., the Joint Executive Committee of both Houses will meet the President of the Republic of Liberia at the main entrance of the Grounds of the Capitol Building and escort him, along with the Sergeants-At-Arms of both Houses to the podium.
Upon arrival, the Sergeant-At-Arms of the House of Representatives will announce the arrival of the President of the Republic of Liberia: ALL PRESENT WILL RISE.
𝐀𝐭 𝟒:𝟎𝟎 𝐩.𝐦., the President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. will deliver his ANNUAL MESSAGE to the Second Joint Session of the 55th Legislature of the Republic of Liberia.
After the ANNUAL MESSAGE, the President of the Republic of Liberia will be escorted to the main entrance of the Grounds of the Capitol Building, where he will take leave. ALL, PRESENT WILL RISE.
