By Jerromie S. Walters
Sub-Editor, WomenVoices Newspaper
Legislative Reporter, House of Representatives, Republic of Liberia
Okonkwo in the African tale “Things Fall Apart” (1958) wasn’t in error when he used the proverb, “It is only a madman that goes to bed with his roof on fire”, to criticize the men of his village, Umuofia, for their passive and diplomatic response to the arrival of the white missionaries and colonialists.
Even though I have always known so, Tuesday’s experience heightened this belief as journalists on Capitol Hill were again slammed in addition to the broad intimidation they have since ignored from Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon. Weeks ago, we (journalists) were warned; just yesterday we were threatened by the third most powerful man in the Republic of Liberia (Speaker Koon) probably because we are lying under a burning roof, but believe it’s an air conditioner.
Traditionally, journalists are not allowed in the chambers until session OFFICIALLY begins. “Unofficial” or “secret” sessions are not held in the midst of journalists. The legislatively recognized private session is EXECUTIVE, and journalists are strictly prohibited from being a part. Besides, the Sergeants-at-Arms are always available to enforce this, as they often ensure that journalists leave the chambers when the speaker (presiding) announces an executive session.
I scrolled on Facebook and realized that many were shocked by the jail threat made by House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon toward legislative reporters during Tuesday’s session. I pondered what adjective to use to describe their feelings if they knew that this crackdown on press freedom didn’t start on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
In fact, Tuesday’s occurrence was just the beginning of the walking stage of a child who, as biology shows, was born and proceeded through crawling and sitting stages. Speaker Koon only demonstrated on Tuesday that his aggressive child brought forth through the House’s Press Bureau was ready to walk, willing, and prepared to smash anyone and anything connected to journalism, including our pens, notepads, recorders, cameras, and computers.
It first became visible on Thursday, October 30, 2025, when the House’s Press Director, Robert Haynes, warned that journalists who follow lawmakers when they are disenchanted about discussion on the floor and leave the chamber, wouldn’t be allowed back in the chambers for that day. This came after Maryland County District #2 Representative Anthony Williams and other lawmakers walked out of session after a heated exchange over a bill seeking to criminalize homosexuality and amend Chapter 14, Subchapter D of the New Penal Code.
River Gee County District #3 Representative Johnson Williams petitioned the plenary to discharge the bill from committee. Speaker Koon, however, deferred the communication, which led to an angry backlash from several lawmakers who accused him of blocking debate on what they called “a national moral issue.”
As Representative Anthony Williams walked out while expressing his dissatisfaction, journalists who followed him to hear out his concerns were temporarily denied from returning to the chamber. They were later allowed in, and a warning was given that a repeat of said act would result in the identified journalists being denied from returning to the chambers for that day.
Obviously, this left many of us (journalists) shocked, and I personally told colleagues that it was the first test for the leadership. Unfortunately, not much attention was given to it by journalists, and even the leadership of the Legislative Press Pool (LEGISPOOL), even though Haynes and his superiors took it seriously. We were told that the mandate came from the House’s leadership.
This pattern has continued. Even after Koon’s jail threat to journalists on Tuesday, several journalists
who followed Montserrado County District #7 Representative Emmanuel Dahn when he angrily walked out of session were denied from returning to the chambers. Representative Dahn’s dissatisfaction was prompted by a report from the House’s Joint Committee on Health and Judiciary on “An Act to repeal Sections 26.11 and 50.9 of the Public Health Law of Liberia as revised 2022, to provide for Patients’ Rights and Discrimination,” which he had submitted.
The committee trashed Representative Dahn’s recommendations, and this made him believe that their decision was not “in the interest of the Liberian people,” especially since he, the proponent of the communication, was not contacted during the committee’s engagement(s). Plenary however instructed that the report be returned to the committee for additional review and possible consideration.
Even though Representative Dahn is a member of the House of Representatives and his dissatisfaction was about a matter placed on the agenda, the House’s leadership and the Press Bureau believe his concern was not newsworthy, and journalists who wanted to consider it were given options to choose between doing so and not being allowed back in the chambers.
What many haven’t understood is the context for Tuesday’s threat. The lawmakers’ discussion arose from Speaker Koon’s inability to have a quorum on time, and this led to a few lawmakers referencing his ascendancy to the post and the House’s last impasse. Prior to and even after the threat on Tuesday, the House of Representatives sitting experienced an hour of delay due to a lack of quorum.
Article 33 of the 1986 constitution states, “A simple majority of each House shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business…” But after the 12th day of the 3rd Quarter was formally called to order with a prayer, proceedings halted immediately during the roll call because only nine of the 73 members were found to be present. The number fluctuated between eight and eleven lawmakers for over an hour, preventing any legislative business from being conducted. It was in this context of his own failure to have a quorum that Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon thought he had no other option but to threaten to jail journalists who attempted to report on the legislative paralysis.
Even the Bible acknowledges Okonkwo‘s proverb in Amos 6:1 (ESV), “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria…” Wherever his soul is now, Kamara Abdullah Kamara must have wept, as the Speaker’s comments violate the (KAK) Act of Press Freedom, placed in his name in 2019. The legislation decriminalized speech by repealing several statutes used to prosecute journalists, including criminal libel against the president, sedition, and criminal malevolence.
But Koon’s unorthodox posture has possibly overshadowed that, and we (journalists) are now regretting going to bed with our roof on fire because we took the Press Bureau’s first decision lightly. However, I urged that relevant stakeholders, including the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) act as swiftly as possible to ensure that press freedom is regarded by the House’s leadership and the rights of journalists covering the legislature are respected and protected.
