Liberia’s Supreme Court Justice, Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, has publicly weighed in on the ongoing political deadlock in the country’s House of Representatives, offering a significant boost to embattled Speaker Fonati Koffa. In his first public comments on the matter, Justice Gbeisay addressed concerns regarding the absence of Justices at President Joseph Boakai’s second State of the Nation address.
Gbeisay clarified that the ongoing political crisis within the House, which has been led by a majority bloc headed by Richard Koon, stems from their failure to elect a recognized Speaker, a violation of the Liberian Constitution. He emphasized that decisions made by the bloc lack constitutional validity and that a legal quorum cannot be established unless the election of a recognized Speaker is completed in accordance with the nation’s constitutional provisions.
The deadlock has sparked growing tensions within the House, with many questioning the legitimacy of decisions taken by the Koon-led majority. Justice Gbeisay’s statement serves as a firm reminder of the importance of adhering to constitutional processes and highlights the challenges that the political system faces in Liberia as it navigates a period of intense political uncertainty.
The ongoing dispute in the House of Representatives, along with Gbeisay’s intervention, has added a layer of complexity to Liberia’s already volatile political landscape, and observers are keenly watching for further developments in the coming weeks.
