The Majority Bloc’s attempt to recall three of its representatives from the ECOWAS Parliament, through the authority of the purported speaker, Richard Koon, has hit a dead end. The regional body has made it clear: once lawmakers are sworn in, they can’t just be pulled out on a whim.
In a letter dated March 7, 2025, ECOWAS responded to the Liberian House of Representatives, stating that representatives to the regional parliament serve a fixed four-year term. The only way they can be removed before their term ends is if they resign, lose re-election, are physically or mentally incapable of serving, or are dismissed for misconduct. None of these apply to the three Liberian lawmakers in question, Samuel R. Enders, Sr., Moima Briggs-Mensah, and Taa Z. Wongbe.
This means that despite the Majority Bloc’s request, these officials will remain in the ECOWAS Parliament until their term expires. Essentially, ECOWAS is reminding the Majority Bloc that international commitments must be respected, and political shifts at home don’t automatically translate to changes at the regional level.
For those wondering why this matters, ECOWAS isn’t just rejecting a request, it’s upholding its own rules. If member states could remove representatives at any time, the institution’s stability and independence would be at risk. By standing firm, ECOWAS is ensuring that its Parliament remains functional and free from constant political interference.
So, unless one of the listed removal conditions applies, Liberia will have to wait until the current term ends before making any changes to its delegation.
