Undoing ECOWAS’ Tenure Too?

As a member state, scores of Liberia’s lawmakers currently represent the country on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to participate in the regional grouping’s discussions on issues confronting West Africa, while at the same time collaborating with other sub-regions on the Continent to foster democracy, peace, unity and good governance practices. The present 55th Legislature under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, following the 2023 elections, like the regimes of Madam Sirleaf and Mr. Weah did,  both senators and representatives were elected to represent Liberia on the ECOWAS Parliament in fulfillment of the regional grouping  leadership protocol. Meanwhile, those  elected following the leadership elections at the National Legislature who are currently on the ECOWAS Parliament are Rep. Taa Wongbaye, Rep. Mamia Diggs- Mensah, Rep. Musa Bility, Rep. Eugene Kollie,  Sen. Edwin Melvin Snowe, Sen. Alex Tyler and Sen. Francis Doepoh. These lawmakers are expected to only be replaced when their ECOWAS tenure has expired and the Liberian Government deems it expedient to recall them for other members of the Legislature to be elected to serve tenure. However, in one year of the Boakai-led administration, a prolonged leadership has since engulfed the House of Representatives, thus forcefully removing elected Speaker J. Fonati Koffa who, up to present, does not honor Representative Richard Nagbe Koon as Speaker of the 55th House of Representatives. The crisis divided members of the House of Representatives into minority and majority blocs who have been at each other throats since the leadership tussle began thereby seemingly impeding legitimate legislative functions in the interest of the Liberian people. When the crisis erupted before last Christmas and New Year seasons, ECOWAS dispatched a delegation to Liberia to make mediation between both blocs, but it was reported that President Boakai said he did not send for ECOWAS and could not meet and discuss with the delegation on the matter. He reportedly noted that the issue at hand was amongst members of a separate branch of government that he (President Boakai) could not interfere into. However, critics claimed that the governing Unity Party hierarchies (president and vice president and others) were the brains behind the removal of embattled Speaker Koffa to pave way for a UP lawmaker to take over the speakership. Sharply, the governing party continues to refute the claim, even though Representative Koon, now declared Speaker, is a partisan of UP. Though the dust has not completely settled, the Koon leadership is said to have sent a communication to ECOWAS, recalling members of the Liberian House of Representatives elected during Representative Koffa Speakership to be replaced. The communication in question reportedly indicated that the process leading to electing those to be recalled was not done in a transparent and accountable manner. Vehemently, ECOWAS reportedly rejected the request, on grounds that those representing Liberia on the Parliament have tenure to serve; as such, they cannot be recalled as the Koon leadership longs for. Yet, the Boakai-led government does not seem to relax its request while ECOWAS appears to remain resolute not to adhere to the recall pressure from Liberia. Meanwhile, one of the longest serving Liberian lawmakers on the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Snowe of Bomi County, said the communication from the House of Representatives to recall those lawmakers elected at the regional grouping parliament is currently on the ECOWAS agenda in Abuja, Nigeria for deliberation.  However, he said once people are elected on the parliament they are to serve for four years. This statement seems to suggest that ECOWAS is most unlikely to honor the request from Liberia.   It is recalled that in 2006, Senator Snowe, then Representative of Montserrado County Electoral District Number Six became speaker of the 22nd National Legislature but was removed and replaced by then Bomi County Representative Alex Tyler, whose party- the Liberia Action Party (LAC) collaborated with the governing Unity Party at the time. Though Snowe was removed as speaker, those lawmakers elected to occupy Liberia’s slots at the ECOWAS Parliament were never recalled on the request of then Speaker Tyler’s leadership. Similar political trend took place when Tyler was replaced by now Margibi Senator Emmanuel Nuquay during the second regime of Madam Sirleaf. Yet, those already seated at the ECOWAS Parliament before the removal of Tyler were never recalled. Rep. Wongbaye, Rep. Mamia Digs-Mensah, Rep. Musa Bility, Rep. Eugene Kollie, Sen. Snowe, Sen. Tyler, Sen. Doepoh