-During High-Level Diplomatic Forum
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, – In an appeal to international partners, House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon has declared an urgent need to digitize Liberia’s legislative operations, warning that outdated systems are crippling government transparency and efficiency. The Speaker’s stark assessment came during a strategic engagement with diplomats and development partners at a high-level forum in Monrovia.
Speaker Koon painted a concerning picture of the current state of legislative infrastructure, revealing that lawmakers still operate without basic digital tools. The National Legislature lacks functioning microphones in its chambers, maintains manual record-keeping systems, and has no public-facing website for citizen engagement – shortcomings that severely limit governance effectiveness in the 21st century.
The Speaker’s comprehensive modernization proposal includes several critical components. He requested immediate support to implement digital voting systems, develop official legislative websites, and build technical capacity among staff members. These upgrades would dramatically improve transparency, allowing citizens to track legislation and their representatives’ voting records in real time.
With Liberia preparing to host the Mano River Union Parliamentary Conference from July 16-20, 2025, Koon emphasized the pressing need for simultaneous interpretation equipment to accommodate French-speaking delegates from neighboring countries. “This regional gathering represents both an opportunity and a challenge,” Koon explained. “We want to showcase Liberia’s leadership but require basic technological support to do so professionally.”
Beyond immediate needs, the Speaker proposed ambitious constitutional reforms. He suggested convening a national referendum to modernize Liberia’s foundational legal document, arguing that many provisions have become obsolete. His vision includes embedding a 50-year national development roadmap into the constitution to ensure policy continuity across administrations, drawing inspiration from successful models in Rwanda and Botswana.
Meanwhile, the House Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, Budget & Development Planning demonstrated the Legislature’s commitment to transparency through its public review of a major loan agreement with the African Development Bank. Committee Chairman P. Mike Jurry emphasized that while specific ministries would implement the loan, its impact would affect all Liberians. The inclusive hearing process, which involved civil society organizations, media, and government agencies, set a new standard for accountability in national financial matters.
Speaker Koon concluded the diplomatic forum by proposing regular quarterly engagements with international partners. “Liberia’s democratic development requires this sustained partnership,” he stated. “We bring local expertise and political will, but need technical support to bridge the digital divide in our governance institutions.”
Development partners are expected to respond to Liberia’s modernization appeal in coming weeks, with potential implementation beginning ahead of the crucial Mano River Union conference. This comprehensive push for legislative digitization marks a potential turning point for Liberia’s governance, as the country seeks to transition from post-war recovery to a fully functional digital democracy.
The forum highlighted both the challenges and opportunities facing Liberia’s political system, with Speaker Koon’s bold modernization agenda signaling a new era of legislative transparency and efficiency.
