Face to Face with Capitol Hill Adversaries -ECOWAS Delegation Begins Mediation In HOR Crisis

By H Matthew Turry

In an effort to resolve the political impasse between adversarial groups of the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill, ECOWAS’ five-member Parliamentary delegation visiting Liberia yesterday came face to face with both dissenting group and the other under the gavel of the Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa.

Some members of the visiting delegation include Barau J Jibrin, Deputy Speaker; Ballay G Tunkara, Nassirou Bako Arifan and K. Bartin amongst others.

The meeting with the rebellious group, which was held behind closed doors, was a confidential forum for discussing ways to resolve internal disputes in the House of Representatives.

During the meeting, Deputy Speaker Hon. Thomas P. Fallah, who is leading the majority bloc, appointed a five-member committee to work together with the ECOWAS delegation to help resolve the ongoing issues on Capitol Hill.

The committee consists of Rep. Samue G.L. Kogar as Chair, Sekou S. Kanneh as Co-Chairman, and members include Rep. Julie F. Weah, Marcus Thomas, and P. Mark Jurry, among others.

Prior to meeting with the Anti-Koffa bloc on Thursday, November 14 2024, the ECOWAS Delegation upon their arrival at the Capitol Building on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 met separately with the Speaker’s bloc and the leadership of the Liberian Senate to advance mediation efforts.

The ECOWAS delegation met with the Speaker J Fonati Koffa at the main chamber of the House of Representatives.

The ECOWAS delegation was warmly welcomed by Speaker Koffa, who expressed appreciation for the regional body’s commitment to ensuring harmony and effective governance in Liberia.

Speaker Koffa expressed gratitude to the ECOWAS Parliament for its timely intervention and reaffirmed his dedication to fostering unity within the House.

Following the meeting, Speaker Memounatou Ibrahima emphasized the importance of regional solidarity and cooperation in promoting democratic values and stability.

At the same time, the ECOWAS visiting delegation met with the leadership of the Liberian Senate in regards to the crisis at the House of Representatives.

While briefing the leadership of the Senate, the head of delegation and Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Memounatu Ibrahima extended warmest gratitude from the ECOWAS Parliament to the Liberian Senate for the warm reception accorded the delegation since its arrival in Liberia.

The ECOWAS speaker who spoke through an interpreter, said the presence of the delegation in Liberia is predicated upon a mandate from the ECOWAS Parliamentary body and the ECOWAS Commission.

Senate Pro-Tempore, Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, welcomed the delegation and expressed gratitude to the delegation.

She told the visiting ECOWAS delegation that although the Legislature is a bi-camera, one with separate rules, what affects the House of Representatives also affects the Senate Chambers, and as such there was a need for peace in the House of Representatives.

The Liberian Senate also attached similar interest in the resolution of the impasse as evidenced by a recent mediation Committee set up by the Liberian Senate.

The Grand Bassa lawmaker Lawrence told the delegation that she hopes that the committee will report on or before the end of this week.