-Rep. Cooper Blasts House’s Inaction Over 72nd Barrack Eviction
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA – Montserrado County District #5 Representative Priscillia A. Cooper has expressed disappointment with the House of Representatives’ handling of a potential mass eviction crisis affecting her constituents near Camp Ramrod. The controversy erupted during Tuesday, February 3, 2026, session when a communication from Rep. Cooper, seeking clarity on the urgent situation, was effectively dismissed without a substantive debate.
Rep. Cooper’s formal request had called on plenary to invite officials from the Ministry of National Defense to explain the circumstances and legal basis for the planned removal of residents. The goal, she argued, was to ensure due process and prevent a humanitarian crisis. Dated January 28, 2026, the letter to Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon highlights growing anxieties among constituents in District #5 who legally acquired properties near the barracks through official documentation.
These residents now face uncertainty and potential displacement, prompting Rep. Cooper to seek direct intervention from the legislature. “Concerns have been raised by several constituents… regarding their occupancy of lands in the vicinity of Camp Ramrod, which they claim to have acquired legally through legitimate documentation,” Cooper stated in her letter. “These residents have expressed fears of possible displacement.” The lawmaker emphasized the broader implications of the issue, linking it to peace, stability, and the protection of property rights in Liberia.
She argued that an official briefing from the Ministry of National Defense is essential to ensure transparency, protect citizens’ rights, and foster dialogue between affected communities and the government. “If granted, this request will greatly assist the Legislature in ensuring transparency, protecting the rights of citizens, and fostering constructive dialogue,” Rep. Cooper noted. However, the process derailed when Bong County District #4 Representative Robert F. Womba rose to move the matter to a committee—the standard procedural channel.
However, his motion was cut short by vocal opposition from multiple lawmakers who insisted the issue’s gravity warranted immediate discussion in full plenary. Despite the motion never being formally concluded or seconded, House Speaker Richard N. Koon declared it accepted, effectively sidestepping a plenary debate and sending the issue to an unspecified committee. This abrupt decision sparked immediate and vocal objections from several legislators on the floor.
“I Am Really Disappointed”:
Representative Priscillia A. Cooper told journalists her dissatisfaction following the session: : “If we want to exercise eminent domain, there are steps to follow. I am saying we because I am a part of government. If those places are not for them, there are also steps to follow. Even if someone is on your land illegally, restore some dignity, don’t just jack them off and remove them from the barracks. Today is the last day so I brought this letter on the floor so we can call those people involved.”
Cooper noted the sensitivity of involving security agencies: “I understand this is a sensitive issue so I wasn’t requesting that they come for open plenary… we run on committees in this House. Call them in committee room let’s understand the plight of our people. It’s very essential and to just dismiss it like that, I am so disappointed. Am really disappointed.
However, she revealed she had spoken with Speaker Koon, who she said promised to reconsider his decision. “I just spoke with the speaker. He’s going to correct whatever mistake he made and make sure the dignity of our people is restored.” She added, “It’s a sensitive matter, I understand but it shouldn’t have gone the way it went.”
The lawmaker also voiced a deeper concern about public perception and trust. “Give us the opportunity to speak especially when you represent people. People carry different narratives.” She fears that her constituents might assume that she is not advocating on their behalf, especially in such a situation when they need her the most.
Liberians facing eviction from the Camp Ramrod Military Barracks (also known as the 72nd Barracks) have since called on the government to reconsider, especially those who legally acquired their properties.
Among them is Madam Frances Yonger Morsay, owner of the Help Yourself Business Center, who broke down in tears while pleading for justice. Morsay, who has operated her business on the land for a decade, asserts she was never informed it belonged to the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
She claims to have acquired the land from a family with deeds dating back to the 1970s, prior to Liberia’s civil conflict, and has invested over US $500,000. The family currently resides in the USA and has requested two weeks to return to address the situation—a request the AFL appears unwilling to accommodate.
The affected individuals have reached out to the office of Representative Priscilla Abram Cooper but have yet to receive a response. While they initially accepted the AFL’s decision to barricade the area, the action has escalated tensions.
Gov’t Stance and Eviction Order:
In an official press statement dated January 23, 2026, the Ministry of National Defense reiterated its call for the immediate evacuation of all illegal occupants from the barracks. The Ministry encouraged civilians “currently within and around the barracks unlawfully to respectfully but firmly evacuate” within fourteen days, effective Monday, January 19, 2026.
During this period, the AFL Engineering Battalion is erecting physical barricades to demarcate its property. The public, particularly those squatting in the area, is urged to remain calm, cooperate, and use marked exit routes, with assurances that no personal belongings will be confiscated and no action will be taken against those who comply peacefully.
The AFL claims that Camp Ramrod has been illegally occupied since the end of the Liberian Civil War, and all prior efforts to reclaim the property have been unsuccessful. According to the Ministry, the occupation has severely constrained the AFL’s ability to rehabilitate the facility and expand accommodations for new recruits and operational units.
The Ministry further stated that since early 2024, it has held multiple engagements with the occupants’ leadership and formally communicated the requirement for voluntary evacuation. A written four-month notice to vacate was also issued in May 2025. “Despite these engagements and ample notice, the occupants remain within the barracks,” the release noted. Out of the 37 acres allegedly occupied, the AFL now has access to only 13 acres earmarked for renovations.
