Liberia: President Koffa rejects calls to resign amid legislative tensions

Monrovia — Amid a heated political showdown between two groups of lawmakers at the Capitol, the Speaker of the 55th Legislature, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, has flatly rejected the calls for his resignation, arguing that there is no constitutional basis to dissolve the legislature due to the postponement of the sessions due to lack of quorum.

Reporting by Blamo N. Toe and Gibson Gee

During an interview with reporters in his office on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, President Koffa dismissed the idea that the Supreme Court could dissolve the legislature if the president adjourns five consecutive sessions for failing to meet a quorum. “Where is the five times in the law? None,” Koffa remarked, stressing that there is no such provision in Liberia’s 1986 Constitution.

Speaker Koffa described legislative procedures in cases where a quorum is not met, stating, “We can adjourn and we can compel.” He explained that minority members of the House could compel the majority to attend sessions, noting that the constitution recognizes the president or vice president as the leader, not the majority in their absence.

On Tuesday, a group of 43 lawmakers, led by Representative Samuel Kogar, convened their own session at the Joint House of the Legislature, while 29 other members, under the hammer of Speaker Koffa and Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, gathered in the main room. The majority bloc issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Vice President Fallah and Chief Secretary Mildred Siryon to appear before them or risk declaring Fallah’s seat vacant.

President Koffa’s group, unable to reach the required quorum of 37 members, adjourned the session. Koffa directed the Chief Secretary to notify the absent lawmakers to attend the next session scheduled for Thursday, October 24, 2024.

When asked about the consequences if members of the majority bloc did not attend, President Koffa mentioned the possibility of escalating the matter to the Supreme Court.

In response to questions about the legality of the majority bloc calling a separate session, Koffa clarified that the session was invalid under the rules. “Membership to the session is under the hammer of the president or, in his absence, the vice president,” he explained. He rejected any suggestion that the meeting of the 43 lawmakers was anything more than a meeting under freedom of association.

Koffa also strongly rejected the idea of resignation, stating: “That is not possible; resignation is not an option for us.”

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