In a sharp rebuke, former Liberian Presidential candidate and human rights advocate Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe has called on President Joseph Nyumah Boakai to immediately comply with a landmark Supreme Court ruling affirming Speaker J. Fonati Koffa as the legitimate presiding officer of the House of Representatives.
The Supreme Court’s April 23 decision unequivocally declared that any legislative session convened without Speaker Koffa, unless he is absent or incapacitated, is unconstitutional. The ruling directly challenges recent actions by a faction of lawmakers who attempted to bypass the elected Speaker, a move the Court condemned as a “total disregard for the rule of law.”
Cllr. Gongloe, a former presidential candidate and respected voice on governance, emphasized that the Court’s judgment is legally binding under Articles 65 and 66 of Liberia’s Constitution, which mandate that all branches of government adhere to the Supreme Court’s rulings without exception.
“Mr. President, the Court has spoken. There is no room for interpretation or delay,” Gongloe stated, referencing President Boakai’s recent remarks about continuing to engage with a disputed legislative quorum. “To defy this ruling is to undermine Liberia’s constitutional order and erode public trust in democracy.”
The scholar warned that failure to enforce the Court’s decision risks plunging Liberia into political instability, damaging its international reputation, and jeopardizing its bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He also raised concerns about the economic fallout, noting that foreign investors rely on predictable rule of law.
Drawing parallels to the 2000 U.S. presidential election, Gongloe invoked former Vice President Al Gore’s concession after a contentious Supreme Court decision: “While I strongly disagree with the court’s decision, I accept it.”
“Liberia needs this same statesmanship now,” Gongloe urged. “The peace and credibility of our nation depend on leaders who prioritize the Constitution over political expediency.”
He outlined five critical demands for President Boakai:
- Publicly affirm the Supreme Court’s authority and instruct officials to cease undermining its ruling.
- Discipline or dismiss officials who defy the Court’s judgment.
- Compel lawmakers to recognize Speaker Koffa’s authority.
- Direct all official communications to Speaker Koffa, not rival factions.
- Withdraw state resources from unauthorized figures and restore them to the Speaker.
Gongloe cautioned that defiance could trigger institutional chaos, paralyzing governance at a time when Liberia faces pressing challenges. “The law is not a menu; it is the foundation of our republic,” he asserted.
The statement has intensified scrutiny on President Boakai’s next steps, with civil society and diplomatic observers watching closely. As Liberia navigates this constitutional test, Gongloe’s message is clear: “A better Liberia is possible only with an unshakable commitment to the rule of law.”
The Ball is in Your Court, Mr. President
With the Supreme Court’s ruling now a litmus test for Liberia’s democratic resilience, the pressure is on President Boakai to demonstrate whether his administration governs by the Constitution, or by political convenience.
