MONROVIA — The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) on Monday sharply criticized President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for his decision to continue working with lawmakers of the so-called “Koon Bloc,” calling it a blatant disregard for a recent Supreme Court ruling and a serious setback for Liberia’s democratic and constitutional governance.
The civil society organization’s rebuke comes after the Supreme Court invalidated Representative Richard Nagbe Koon’s leadership over the House of Representatives, ruling that all actions taken under his gavel were unconstitutional. The Court reaffirmed Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa as the legitimate Speaker of the House.
Despite the ruling, President Boakai, in an address to the nation, acknowledged the Court’s decision but said he would continue to engage lawmakers who could meet the constitutional requirement for a quorum to conduct government business.
At a press conference on April 28, CENTAL’s Director of Programs, Atty. Gerald D. Yeakula, expressed deep disappointment in the President’s posture. He argued that genuine respect for the Supreme Court’s authority would require severing ties with the Koon Bloc immediately.
“CENTAL recognizes the concern that members of the Koon Bloc may be unwilling to return to sessions presided over by Speaker Koffa,” Yeakula said. “While some argue that the President must work with any group constituting a quorum, CENTAL finds it troubling because the Court clearly stated that a quorum not presided over by the duly elected Speaker is no quorum at all.”
Yeakula noted that the House has long failed to establish rules compelling lawmakers’ attendance at sessions, a constitutional mandate left unfulfilled for nearly four decades. He stressed that addressing this gap must be a priority once normalcy returns.
“In the absence of such a rule, CENTAL believes it is incumbent upon Koon Bloc members to respect the Supreme Court’s ruling and participate in sessions led by Speaker Koffa,” Yeakula said. He added that if the bloc seeks to remove Speaker Koffa, it must do so following constitutional procedures, not by staging parallel sessions or boycotts.
Addressing the Koon Bloc’s petition for re-argument filed with the Supreme Court, Yeakula said the action itself acknowledges the Court’s supremacy. He emphasized that unless the Court reverses or amends its decision, the current ruling remains final and binding.
CENTAL also criticized the Supreme Court for what it called a lack of urgency in resolving governance-related disputes, pointing to delays in ruling on a Bill of Information filed by Speaker Koffa. According to the organization, the delays worsened the crisis and further undermined public confidence in the judiciary.
The group called on President Boakai to enforce the Supreme Court’s April 23 decision by fully restoring Speaker Koffa’s authority and to refrain from engaging the Koon Bloc unless or until the Court rules otherwise.
“There can be no shortcuts,” Yeakula stressed. “The dysfunction and prolonged delays in critical national decision-making are direct consequences of the recent legislative crisis.”
CENTAL urged both the Executive and the Legislature to uphold the rule of law, warning that Liberia’s fragile democracy cannot withstand continued constitutional breaches at the highest levels of government.
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