By Grace Q. Bryant
The House of Representatives has elected three new lawmakers to represent the country at the ECOWAS Parliament, replacing previous delegates aligned with embattled Speaker Fonati Koffa.
The decision, reached through a white-ballot voting process, follows ongoing political disputes within the Legislature over the authority to select representatives for the regional body.
The newly elected lawmakers are: Moima Briggs Mensah; Augustine Chiewolo and Samson Q. Wiah.
Chiewolo and Wiah replace Rep Samuel Enders and Rep. Taa Wongbe, both of whom were appointed under Speaker Koffa’s leadership.
The new representatives will participate in ECOWAS policy discussions on trade, security, governance, and regional integration.
The move to replace Koffa’s allies was initiated by the majority Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon. Reps. Johnson Williams and James Kolleh filed a formal complaint, arguing that Koffa’s previous selections were made without plenary approval and lacked proper political balance.
The recall of the former delegates marks a shift in the House’s power structure, as legislators assert greater control over Liberia’s representation in ECOWAS.
However, the decision has met strong opposition from Senator Edwin Snowe, Liberia’s senior representative at the ECOWAS Parliament.
He warned that ECOWAS operates independently and may not recognize the recall.
Snowe urged President Boakai to remain neutral; emphasizing that political disagreement should not interfere with Liberia’s role in the regional body.
“The ECOWAS Parliament is governed by its own rules, and not even the current ECOWAS Chairman, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, can enforce such a recall,” Snowe stated.
Reports suggest that the ECOWAS Parliament may reject Liberia’s decision to replace its representatives, citing procedural concerns.
It yet remains unclear what the diplomatic move will be if the regional body refuse to recognize the new delegates.
For now, the newly elected lawmakers are set to assume their roles, but the controversy surrounding their selection underscores deepening political tensions within the Legislature.
