Published: October 23, 2026
MONROVIA — Sinoe County District 3 Rep. Alex Noah is pushing to reduce the minimum age requirement for election to the House of Representatives from 25 to 21, arguing that young Liberians deserve greater opportunities in national leadership while questioning the government’s road equipment distribution program and its ability to improve rural infrastructure.
Speaking Thursday on Voice of Liberia, Noah said his proposed Youth Representation Bill of 2026 seeks to remove age-related barriers preventing qualified young Liberians from seeking elected office.
He questioned why citizens can vote at 18 but must wait until 25 to run for seats in the House of Representatives, calling the requirement a limit on youth participation in governance.
“Some people, at 18, they are out of high school. At 21, some people are out of university,” Noah said.
The lawmaker argued that young people are frequently mobilized during election campaigns but face restrictions when attempting to become elected representatives themselves.
According to Noah, the proposed legislation is intended to expand political opportunities for young people and encourage their involvement in national decision-making.
He said the proposal had been introduced in the Legislature, with one measure before the Senate and another under committee review.
Although he acknowledged concerns about the proposal, including its potential financial implications, Noah maintained that existing laws should be reviewed when reforms are necessary.
Changing the constitutional minimum age for House candidates would require a constitutional amendment rather than ordinary legislation alone.
Beyond youth representation, Noah questioned how the government distributes road equipment across Liberia’s 15 counties, warning the initiative could fail to deliver lasting improvements without adequate maintenance arrangements.
He disclosed that Sinoe County had received four pieces of road-working equipment, including a compactor, grader, excavator and another machine used for road clearing.
Noah cautioned against combining operational road machinery with other vehicles when reporting the amount of equipment distributed to counties.
“I’m just telling you, the ones I just got there are four pieces,” he said.
While acknowledging that additional equipment might be available elsewhere, the lawmaker stressed the importance of accurately accounting for machinery assigned to road rehabilitation.
He warned that equipment breakdowns could become a major challenge within months if the government failed to establish an effective maintenance system.
According to Noah, distributing machinery without arrangements for repairs, servicing and sustained operations would do little to address Liberia’s longstanding road challenges.
He called for a stronger role for the Ministry of Public Works in maintaining roads, including establishing or strengthening county-level maintenance operations.
The Sinoe County representative also linked poor road conditions to difficulties accessing healthcare, particularly in remote communities.
“You cannot improve health when the roads are bad,” he said.
He cited the dangers faced by pregnant women requiring emergency medical attention when ambulances become stranded on deteriorated roads.
Noah maintained that meaningful infrastructure development requires more than distributing equipment, emphasizing the need for a sustainable system that keeps roads accessible year-round.
The lawmaker also addressed political accountability, acknowledging that elected officials often face public expectations that exceed their authority and available resources.
“The one I cannot do, I tell you straight up,” Noah said, explaining his approach to requests from constituents.
He argued that politicians should avoid making promises they cannot fulfill simply to secure public support, stressing that honesty and accountability must remain central to political leadership.
Noah acknowledged concerns about campaign promises and the pressure lawmakers face after taking office, but said those challenges should not prevent elected officials from pursuing practical solutions.
He further called for greater employment opportunities for young Liberians, arguing that the government must create conditions that allow citizens to earn a living and contribute to national development.
Meanwhile, Noah highlighted several initiatives he said his office had undertaken to improve healthcare, education and transportation in Sinoe County District 3.
He said his office procured an ambulance to improve emergency transport for residents who previously faced delays accessing medical facilities.
According to the lawmaker, patients sometimes waited for ambulances to travel from hospitals in the county capital, creating difficulties during medical emergencies.
He also said he supported building nursing quarters to encourage healthcare workers to accept assignments in rural communities.
Noah said providing accommodation for medical personnel could help address staffing challenges and improve healthcare delivery in underserved areas.
On education, the representative disclosed that he had procured two buses to provide free transportation for students in Taiyomo and Johasson.
He said the initiative was intended to reduce transportation costs for families and improve students’ access to schools.
The lawmaker acknowledged receiving fuel assistance from a company operating within a concession area to support one of the buses.
He also raised concerns about the difficulties students face at community colleges, particularly transportation and living expenses.
Noah said he had written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and fellow lawmakers, asking them to address challenges affecting students pursuing higher education.
He also said he introduced legislation to establish a technical institution in his district, with the proposal currently before relevant Senate committees.
He argued that technical and vocational education could provide young people with practical skills and improve their employment prospects.
The interview also addressed reports that lawmakers allegedly received pickup trucks and questions about how they were financed.
Noah denied receiving a new pickup and declined to confirm allegations about the funding arrangements, saying he lacked direct knowledge of the transactions.
“I’ve been hearing in the street corner. I’m not a financial person. I’m not also a signatory to our account,” he said.
The representative maintained that allegations involving public funds must be supported by evidence rather than speculation.
He confirmed his involvement with a group of lawmakers advocating legislative reforms but emphasized that supporting reform did not mean accepting every accusation against fellow legislators without verification.
Noah said lawmakers should be prepared to demand accountability when credible evidence establishes the misuse of public resources.
He called for greater attention to rural communities, arguing that infrastructure development, healthcare, education and employment opportunities must be addressed together to improve living conditions.
The Sinoe County lawmaker maintained that effective representation requires elected officials to remain accessible to constituents, acknowledge the limits of their authority and work with government institutions, private companies and local communities to address development challenges.
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