-Ex-president Weah Warns, Urges Boakai to Respect the Supreme Court
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, – Former President George Manneh Weah has warned that defiance of the Supreme Court’s ruling affirming Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa as Liberia’s legitimate House Speaker, “risks plunging Liberia into a constitutional crisis.”
In a statement titled “The Urgent Need to Preserve Liberia’s Constitutional Democracy,” released via his official Facebook page Wednesday evening, Weah hailed the Court’s rejection of an attempted ouster by a dissident legislative bloc as “not merely a legal decision, but a crucial affirmation of the rule of law.” The ruling, he emphasized, is a firewall for Liberia’s fragile democracy.
Weah’s address took direct aim at President Joseph Boakai’s administration: “Let me be unequivocal: any attempt to undermine, ignore, or dismiss this ruling threatens the very foundation of our nation.” He stressed that Liberia’s post-war stability hinges on compliance, warning that rejecting the judiciary’s authority “endangers our collective peace with dire consequences.”
Appeal to Global Partners
Recognizing Liberia’s reliance on international goodwill, Weah called on foreign allies to “encourage the Boakai administration to uphold the rule of law.” His reference to their “vital investments” tacitly links democratic backsliding to potential economic repercussions.
To Liberians, Weah framed the moment as a civic test: “Our democracy is founded on justice… We must stand united to protect our constitution.” His rhetoric mirrors pre-2023 election cautions against political violence, now redirected toward defending institutional integrity.
As many believe, all eyes are on whether President Boakai will publicly endorse the verdict. Pundits say a defiant response could trigger protests from Koffa’s supporters or deepen legislative paralysis.
The ruling
Liberia’s Supreme Court Wednesday, April 23, 2025, declared all actions taken by the majority bloc of the House of Representatives unconstitutional if conducted without the elected Speaker presiding—unless the Speaker is formally absent or incapacitated.
The decision, delivered by the full branch through Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Young, commemorates a key moment in the ongoing political crisis that has deepened divisions within the House of Representatives. The ruling comes after months of turmoil in the House of Representatives, where a faction of lawmakers, led by Montserrado County District #11 Representative Richard N. Koon, had repeatedly convened sessions without Speaker Speaker Fonati Koffa.
The Court’s judgment emphasizes strict adherence to Liberia’s Constitution, which vests authority in the elected Speaker to preside over House sessions. The Chief Justice states: “Any action or sitting of the majority bloc in which the elected Speaker is not presiding—despite being present and not absent or incapacitated—is unconstitutional. The majority bloc is hereby mandated to operate in the interpretation of the Constitution as stated by the Supreme Court.”
