ECOWAS Negotiation Fails …Majority Bloc Vows To Proceed

In the ongoing stalemate at the House of Representatives over a plot to remove House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, an ECOWAS mediation between both sides of the conflict has apparently proven fruitless the Majority Bloc lawmakers have maintained their quest to have the speaker removed.

The Chairman of the Majority Bloc Representative Samuel Kogar in an official response to the recommendations of the ECOWAS Mediation Delegation said on the 17^th of October, A.D. 2024, forty-seven (47) members of the 55th House of Representatives of the Legislature of Liberia signed a Resolution consistent with Article 49 and Article 33 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia to cast vote of no confidence in the Speaker of the 55th Legislature of the Republic of Liberia and to subsequently request his immediate and unconditional removal in keeping with due process.

He said due to obstruction of the Chamber by the Chairman on Rules, Order and Administration and other members, by shutting down the chamber, the Majority Members signed a resolution declaring the Joint Chamber as a Chamber to conduct business.

Kogar said additionally, six members of the 55th House of Representatives including Hon. Alex J. Grant, Hon. Johnson Williams, Hon. Prince Toles, Hon. Samuel N. Brown Sr, Hon Anthony Williams and Hon. Samuel G. Kogar thus expressing that the Speaker has been involved with a number of issues which grossly contravened the standing rules and procedures of the HOR, which brings him into conflict with the 1986 Constitution and the Organic laws and statutes of the Republic.

“As a means of intervention, a high power mediation delegation headed by Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou lbrahima arrived in Liberia and hosted several meetings with the parties of the conflict to include, the Majority and Minority Members of the House of Representatives both in the Joint Chamber of the Capitol Building and the Boulevard Palace Hotel respectively,” the communication.

Representative Kogar said at the finality of the meetings, conversations that were already executed by the Majority Members were similarly proffered by the ECOWAS Mediation Team for consideration by the parties including:

1. The official complaint against the Speaker be dispatched to the office of the honorable Speaker with immediate effect by the Majority Members.
2. The honorable Speaker shall respond to the complaint in writing recusing himself from the presiding over the House during the period of the investigation.
3. Member of the 55th legislature, shall resume plenary sittings in the main chambers of the House of Representatives.
4. The Deputy Speaker shall preside over the Plenary during the period of the Investigation into the charges against the Speaker.
5. The duration of the investigation shall not exceed two weeks
6. The Security and safety of the members of the House will be assured by both parties in order to maintain decorum.

Based on the recommendations from ECOWAS, Kogar said that the Majority Members resolved that “Except for Count of the conversations, the remaining Five Counts of the Six Counts Conversations as proffered by the ECOWAS mediation team has been officially tabled before Plenary through an official complaint against the Speaker which was tested legislatively through a motion proffered on Tuesday, the 12th of November, 2024 by Honorable Steve Tequah, Representative of electoral District #2, Rivercess County, which was passed by Plenary (1 IN SESSION) with the following stated in the motion:”

1. that the official complaint be served on the Speaker with a return thereof,
2. that the Speaker recuses himself and subject himself to the investigation through a Special Committee that was established by Plenary,
3. that the Speaker be accorded due process through an investigation which should last for two weeks
4. that the Deputy Speaker, should preside over the Plenary whilst the investigation is ongoing and
5. That an official report of the Special Committee be submitted to Plenary consistent with the constitution and the Rules and Procedures of the House of Representatives.

However, in reference to Count #3, the Majority Bloc Chairman maintained that the Supreme Court of Liberia, the highest arbiter of justice in Liberia, consistent with Article 66, has recognized the legitimacy of the sitting of Majority Members in the joint chamber.