President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has acknowledged the ruling from Supreme Court as it relates to the ongoing impasse in the House of Representatives. In the statement from the presidency, the President said “As President of the Republic, I acknowledge the ruling of the Supreme Court. However, we must all note that the House of Representatives’ problem remains unresolved.”
The Supreme Court, which is Liberia’s highest court of arbiter of justice on Wednesday, April 23rd, delivered its ruling on the Bill of Information that had been filed before it by embattled House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa.
“Accordingly, my government has already initiated broad consultations with relevant national stakeholders to determine the most appropriate and constitutionally sound path forward. We have actively involved our traditional and other national leaders in addressing this matter.
“In doing so, we remain fully committed to preserving the sanctity of our democracy and the principle of three separate but coordinate branches of government,” the President further said in his statement released Thursday, April 24, 2025.
The President angered his opposition when he said that he will continue to work with those representatives that have quorum so that his government does shutdown.
Those that the President intends to work with, are the ones who the highest court has declared their activities illegal or “ultra vires”. These are group of lawmakers, who have been styled “Majority bloc” and have Montserrado County Representative Richard Nagbe Koon as Speaker. At the moment, the controversial Speaker, Koon, is the one being recognized by the Executive and Senate as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“We will continue to work with the quorum that will ensure the full functioning of our government. Over the past months, we have watched with growing concern as the division in the House of Representatives remained unresolved, undermining public confidence in one of our most vital democratic institutions. Tragically, we have also witnessed the torching of the Capitol Building, a national symbol of our democracy, by arsonists intent on sowing chaos and discord. Today, we received a report of acts of vandalism intended to desecrate the dignity of our public institutions and buildings.”
President Boakai threatened that under his leadership, the government of Liberia will not be held hostage by narrow interests or acts of lawlessness. Adding: “The work of governance will continue, and nothing will distract us from our duty to serve the Liberian people. We are a country governed by laws, not by mobs or self-serving ambition. Those who undermine peace, violate the law, or seek to disrupt national harmony will face the full force of the law and justice.”
Information Minister Piah
Earlier in the day on Thursday during the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing, Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah the Supreme Court’s ruling as a critical opportunity for lawmakers to recommit to national service and abandon political bickering.
Min. Piah indicated how deeply concerned the Boakai Administration is as the impasse has become a prolonged standoff.
“This internal dispute has the potential to undermine the progress we’re making in national development and governance,” Piah warned.
Minister Piah urged lawmakers to rise above personal and political interests and return to legislative business, emphasizing that Liberia’s recovery and growth require collective sacrifice; adding: “The road to national recovery requires all hands on deck.”
H’Rights Lawyer Gongloe’s Rebuttal
Meanwhile, renowned human rights lawyer, Counselor Tiawon Saye Gongloe, has among other things told the President that the Court’s ruling was final.
Mr. President, this ruling is final and must be honored without delay or qualification, consistent with Article 65 of the Constitution of Liberia which provides, “…Judgments of the Supreme Court shall be final and binding and shall not be subject to appeal or review by any other branch of Government.”
Additionally, Article 66 of the same Constitution says, “The Supreme Court shall be the final arbiter of constitutional issues…”
Further in his rebuttal, he emphatically told the President that his expressed assertion that his administration will continue to work with those representatives having is a flagrant disregard to the Court’s authority.
“Mr. President, your recent assertion that your administration will “continue to work with the quorum that ensures full functioning of our government” flagrantly disregards this clear and authoritative ruling of the Supreme Court. It undermines the constitutional foundation of Liberia’s governance and weakens public trust in the rule of law.
“The Court has spoken. As such, all government officials, members of the House of Representatives, citizens of Liberia, diplomatic partners, and both local and international business entities must comply fully with the Court’s judgment.”
