The Acting Chairperson of the Governance Commission (GC), Alaric K. Tokpa, has stressed that a comprehensive review of Liberia’s constitutional and legal frameworks is essential to resolving the ongoing crisis in the House of Representatives.
In a statement issued Monday, Tokpa said the persistent conflict among lawmakers highlights the weaknesses in Liberia’s governing instruments, which he believes must be refined to prevent similar institutional crises in the future.
“Strong legal regimes create room for addressing unforeseen problems and conflicts,” Tokpa noted. “On the contrary, weak instruments allow lingering crises in institutions and society.”
According to him, historical experiences and new realities in Liberia call for a reassessment and rethinking of the country’s rules and regulations, particularly those governing legislative or democratic operations.
Tokpa emphasized that while conflict is a natural occurrence in any society where diverse groups coexist, robust legal systems and regulatory frameworks are necessary to prevent spoilers from undermining government efforts and fostering division.
He further called for a thorough restructuring of the requirements for legislative participation, noting that the current situation has diminished public confidence in democratic aspirations promoted by legislative candidates.
“It is clear for all to see that because of the ugly developments in the Legislature, the exaggeration of democratic hopes by legislative aspirants will no longer continue to impress Liberians,” Tokpa said. “New ways must be found to inspire genuine participation in democratic politics.”
The GC boss also pointed out that Liberia’s post war context involved inheriting a broken state, and emphasized that the task of rebuilding requires bold steps, including reviewing even the nation’s constitution.
He revealed that, under the directive of President Joseph Boakai, the Governance Commission and the Law Reform Commission are working collaboratively on the possibility of placing Liberia on the path toward constitutional review.
