Cllr. Wesseh Animates Lawyers At Mont. Bar Convention -Wants Emphasis Placed on ‘Rule of Law’ Amid Challenges

MONROVIA – The Montserrado County Bar Association has been implored to emphasize the need for increased focus on the rule of law in Liberia, citing recent events that have raised concerns about the country’s commitment to upholding legal standards. A fellow lawyer, Cllr. Medina Wesseh, while delivering the keynote oration at the Bar’s Convention, stressed the importance of adhering to the rule of law, particularly in light of Liberia’s low ratings on the Millennium Compact Challenge on the Rule of Law.  The Analyst reports.

The Montserrado County Bar Association has been implored to emphasize the need for increased focus on the rule of law in Liberia, citing recent events that have raised concerns about the country’s commitment to upholding legal standards.

Speaking at the Montserrado Bar Convention on November 22, 2025, Cllr. Medina Wesseh, the keynote speaker, stressed the importance of adhering to the rule of law, particularly in light of Liberia’s low ratings on the Millennium Compact Challenge on the Rule of Law.

“The theme of this year’s convention is even more relevant against the background of the low ratings… Let’s not call it failure, but low points Liberia as a government and country scored on the Millennium Compact Challenge on the Rule of Law,” Wesseh said.

Wesseh emphasized the need for the legal community to take a proactive role in promoting the rule of law, suggesting that the Montserrado County Bar and the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) hold regular forums on issues related to law and order.

She added: We must not accept to say at least we manage a pass. We did not do well in the areas that investors see as comforting and predictable. Regards for the Rule of law is a golden key and compass to attracting and doing business anywhere including Liberia.”

According to Wesseh, the Montserrado County Bar will take the lead in promoting the rule of law, starting with a proposal to hold quarterly forums on issues of law and order.

“We propose here some small simple but what could be, to work with LNBA and make use of the Law Library to hold public forums, for as many as can be held in the conference room, use technology and have others join by zoom and ensure we cut down cost and publicize the forum,” she said.

Wesseh also called on the LNBA to take a more prominent role in promoting legal education and awareness, suggesting that the organization work with county bars to provide advisory opinions on specific matters.

“The LNBA has done well with some basic reforms, but we must do more to promote the rule of law and ensure that our leaders are held accountable,” Wesseh said.

Decrying Legal Issues Going Unnoticed

Madam Wesseh, who is former Chairperson of the Secretariat of the Mano River Basin, made a candid observation whereby, according to her, “We have seen the politically challenging legal issues go by over time, largely unnoticed except where the courts have come in to make a determination.”

Under the government in 2012 for example, she explained, the President saw the need to raise the bar and first establish by executive order, the Code of Conduct for Public Office Holders. It was not about juridification or using the law to solve social problems.

Ambassador Wesseh recalled that the Code of Conduct was about raising the bar after war, after a breakdown in law and order and government, to remind public holders what is expected of a public official and eventually enacting a Code of Conduct Act.

“This act too is now at the Cross or should we say there is political crucifixion going on around the Code of Conduct,” she said, adding: “If we cannot get common understanding before an office holder in the Public domain enters, should we raise the bar of expectation on their performance while in government and should we be disappointed when they act contrary to what you hold as civilized behavior of government officials?”

She zoomed in on tenured positions in governments and what the courts have said and how the executive branch of government has characterized its actions are all now issues in need of legal education and public understanding of the law.

The female lawyer further said: “The legal and political communities were equally bifurcated along partisan, political, tribal, sentimental lines again until the Supreme Court made a determination as to what was within its province and determined what was constitutional over the whole removal of Speaker Fonati Koffa by some members of the National Legislature.  The courts caused the pulse of the nation to beat slowly as it considered further a Bill of Information on its decision. 

“Again one would have expected that the Liberia National Bar Association would have encouraged its member to educate the public but when, it too, joined the queue for what would be termed Supreme Court bashing, then it became apparently clear that the Bar of the legal fraternity must raise the Bar in our understanding the the law and our respect for the highest court of the land.

“The chorus from ‘down-waterside’ in the legal community can again be placed at one end of the Continuum…oh no the LNBA need to do better than attempt to speak on an issue after the Final Arbiter has made a determination.  On the other hand where the pendulum swung slowly around the executive bend of the curve, there was a nod and approbation of the need to have greater coordination in government to ensure proper functioning of the executive.”

So as we conclude in a legal and political cul de sac, we can only but agree under the Aegis of this year’s Theme that there is a greater need for the county Bars, starting with Montserrado County to take the lead and plan to hold quarterly forum on issues of law and order.

Proposing ‘small’, But Innovative Tool

Continuing, Madam Wesseh asserted: “We propose here some small simple but what could be, to work with LNBA and make use of the Law Library to hold public forums, for as many as can be held in the conference room, use technology and have others join by zoom and ensure we cut down cost and publicize the forum.  Montserrado Bar can work with some young “tackles” to do a Podcast and in collaboration with the LNBA go digital and social while at the same time engaging some five or 10 local newspapers and radio stations to ensure that this is Legal education and awareness for the people of Liberia.

“Members can contribute a minimum of 1usd or 5usd as operational cost.  Monthly charges for montserrado bar continuing legal education.  Let me start with a token of 10usd.  Ok I will make it 120 as my contribution for the year.”

According  LNBA could put the ball in center court, that is for all County Bars to review those specifics on the MCC Scorecard and draw out monthly or quarterly programs to raise awareness, ensure advocacy, provide legal education and if and where needed provide advisory opinion on specific matters to the executive and the legislature.

“The LNBA has done well with some basic reforms wherein the Presidents of the various county bars now rightfully serve as executive members of the LNBA,” Cllr Wesseh noted. “While we are on the subject of reforms, as the Greeks used to ask the physicians to heal thy selves, so would the lawyers be asking the national bar if we do not need constitutional review or reform?”

She urged Montserrado county Bar to raise the bar on education, advocacy and respect for the rule of law and we will be more visible and work together in unity.

The convention was attended by prominent legal professionals, including former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Kabineh J’aneh, and former Senator of River Gee County, Conmany B. Wesseh.