-After Supreme Court Victory
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia – To find a resolution to Liberia’s six-month legislative crisis, House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa today pledged to bridge political divides following a landmark Supreme Court decision affirming his constitutional mandate.
Mid Wednesday, Liberia’s Supreme Court declared all actions taken by the majority bloc of the House of Representatives unconstitutional if conducted without the elected Speaker presiding—unless the Speaker is formally absent or incapacitated.
Speaking from the Capitol Building hours after the ruling, Koffa called for unity and reconciliation. “Let us reason together,” he urged, referencing President John F. Kennedy’s call for civility in politics. He expressed willingness to reach out to key leaders such as Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah and Honourable Richard Nagbe Koon to establish a bipartisan committee, create transitional working groups to address the backlog of legislation and establish regular cross-party consultations.
The Speaker concluded with a plea for national unity and divine blessings, asserting that Liberia’s future depends on collective effort and adherence to democratic principles. “May the Almighty God bless the works of our hands and save the republic,” he said. The coming weeks will test whether Koffa’s reconciliation pledge becomes a governing reality, especially in a divided House.
The House crisis began on October 17, 2024, when a group of lawmakers initiated moves to remove Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa over several allegations. The situation escalated on November 21, 2024, with the controversial election of Richard Nagbe Koon as Speaker. Koffa’s supporters rejected the outcome, labeling it as fraudulent and unconstitutional, further fueling tensions within the House.
