Monrovia – The leadership of the House of Representatives has expressed disappointment over the appearance of officials of the Executive Branch before the breakaway group of lawmakers conducting separate sessions at the Capitol.
These lawmakers have been mounting pressure for the resignation of the Speaker, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, but have failed to follow the constitutional procedure for the removal of the Speaker.
In a statement, House leadership warned that the Executive Branch, as a coordinating arm of government, must avoid actions that could be perceived as interference in a developing constitutional crisis.
“As a coordinating branch of government, the Executive Branch must avoid actions that could be perceived as taking sides in a budding constitutional crisis, which is far more consequential than a mere schoolyard dispute,” the House leadership asserted. They emphasized the importance of upholding constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
The House leadership urged their colleagues in the breakaway faction to resolve the crisis by returning to session and following grievance procedures as outlined in House Rules and the Liberian Constitution. They further appealed to the Executive Branch to refrain from providing any form of support to actions that may contravene constitutional principles, warning that such interference could destabilize Liberia’s democracy. “Liberia is our shared heritage and responsibility,” the statement concluded.
The House’s statement followed the appearance of the Director General of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), Mohammed Ali, the Minister of Transport, Tyler Sirleaf, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, at a session called by the breakaway lawmakers, including the Deputy Speaker. This group, comprising 43 lawmakers, summoned the officials to address allegations that funds from the LWSC and Ministry of Transport were funneled to lawmakers pushing to unseat Speaker Koffa, among others.
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) recently disclosed that it received complaints and observed social media allegations claiming that some lawmakers accepted bribes to support a resolution to oust Koffa. The LACC revealed that up to $750,000 might have been channeled through the LWSC and the Ministry of Transport to facilitate Koffa’s removal. Executive Chairperson of the LACC, Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe, described the alleged bribery as a severe breach of trust that could undermine Liberia’s democratic processes.
During their testimonies, both Ali and Sirleaf categorically denied the accusations, maintaining that they were victims of misinformation. Ali defended the LWSC’s financial integrity, asserting that the corporation follows strict financial regulations. “The Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation operates on best financial practices. No funds are withdrawn or transferred without clear, documented reasons,” Ali stated, adding that the LWSC had submitted comprehensive financial records to both the LACC and the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA).
Minister Sirleaf similarly dismissed the allegations as “misleading” and “without merit,” emphasizing that the Ministry of Transport strictly adheres to Public Financial Management laws under the Ministry of Finance’s oversight. He indicated that the ministry had requested an immediate investigation by the LACC, suggesting the allegations were intended to create discord between the executive and legislative branches.
Despite lacking the necessary 49 votes to constitutionally remove Speaker Koffa, the breakaway lawmakers who now refer to themselves as the ‘majority bloc’ have continued to press for his resignation. Speaker Koffa, however, has maintained that he will not resign and has encouraged dissenting lawmakers to use the constitutional process for his removal.
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