– Call for immediate reconvening of the 55th Legislature
By Vaye Abel Lepolu
Monrovia, Liberia – WomenVoices has learnt that a coalition of twenty-two members of the House of Representatives has formally called for the immediate reconvening of the Legislature in a Special Session to address what they describe as a national emergency: the devastating and widespread drug abuse crisis engulfing Liberia.
In a formal communication dated August 26, 2025, and addressed to Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, the lawmakers—who represent a broad coalition of counties including Bong, Montserrado, Lofa, Grand Bassa, River Gee, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Maryland, Grand Gedeh, and Gbarpolu—issued a stark warning. They stated that the rapid proliferation of narcotic substances is catastrophically tearing apart the social fabric of communities across the nation and imperiling the future of Liberia’s youth.
The legislators argued that “the devastating impact of drugs is rapidly eroding the social fabric of our nation,” noting that every community, from the capital to the remotest villages, is now overwhelmed by the consequences of broken families, rising violence, and a generation whose potential is being destroyed.
Invoking their constitutional authority under Article 32(b), which empowers the Legislature to reconvene in cases of urgency, the group urgently petitioned Speaker Koon to call members back from their recess immediately to deliberate on and enact robust anti-drug measures.
Their comprehensive proposal outlines several critical actions for the session to undertake. These include reviewing and strengthening existing drug laws to impose significantly harsher penalties on traffickers while simultaneously creating compassionate rehabilitation opportunities for victims of addiction.
Furthermore, they propose establishing a National Rehabilitation and Reintegration Program to aid addicted citizens, allocating emergency funds to strengthen the operational capacity of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), and enhancing regional cooperation with ECOWAS and Mano River Union states to combat the pervasive issue of cross-border drug trafficking.
The petition emphatically stressed that “this is no ordinary matter,” but rather a full-blown national emergency that demands an extraordinary legislative response, concluding that the Liberian people are looking to their Representatives to rise to this grave challenge and demonstrate decisive leadership in safeguarding the next generation.
This legislative initiative has ignited significant public debate and comes at a time when citizens and civil society organizations have increasingly intensified their calls for urgent and concrete government action to address a drug crisis that many believe has already reached epidemic levels.
The petition was signed by a significant group of representatives, including Hon. Moima Dabeh Briggs-Mensah of Bong County, Hon. Ellen Markai Attoh Wreh of Margibi County, Hon. Priscilla Abram Cooper of Montserrado County, Hon. Dixon Wlawlee Seboe of Montserrado County, and Hon. Thomas A. Goshua II of Grand Bassa County.
Other signatories are Michael M. Thomas of District #4, Montserrado County; Prince A. Toles of District #8, Montserrado County; J. Marvin Cole of District #3, Bong County; Marie G. Johnson of District #2, Grand Gedeh County; Rugie Yatu Barry of District #1, Montserrado County; Julie Fatorma Wiah of District #2, Lofa County; Bintu Massalley of District #1, Grand Cape Mount County; and Thomas Romeo Quioh of District #1, Margibi County.
Among other lawmakers who signed are Gbassie Sonii Feika of District #3, Grand Cape Mount County; Luther Collins of District #3, Gbarpolu County; Momo Siafa Kpoto of District #3, Lofa County; Austin Blidi Taylor of District #3, Maryland County; Prince K. Koinah of District #1, Bong County; Robert Flomo Womba of District #4, Bong County; Eugene J.M. Kollie of District #5, Bong County; and Sumo Kollie Mulbah of District #3, Montserrado County.
The Adjoinment:
The Honorable House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature of the Republic of Liberia adjourned its second quarter session, which ran from May 13 to July 18, 2025, after a productive period of legislative activity that saw the passage of 43 bills and resolutions. During the quarter, the House held a total of 24 sittings, comprising 19 regular sessions, three executive sessions, and two special sittings, reflecting a robust schedule of deliberations and oversight.
A total of 43 bills and resolutions were passed by the House, demonstrating significant legislative output. These included 19 bills originating from the House itself, 11 executive bills submitted by the President, and 12 bills that originated in the Senate. Additionally, one resolution was adopted during the period.
Meanwhile, 36 legislative items remained under committee review. These include 15 House bills, eight Senate bills, eight executive bills, four resolutions, and one petition, indicating a substantial pipeline of work expected to be addressed when the House reconvenes.
The lawmakers’ request for an emergency session follows a massive anti-drug march on August 7, 2025, when hundreds of Liberians called on the government to take urgent action against the country’s worsening drug crisis. Recent studies indicate that 20% of young people—approximately two in every ten—are now using narcotics. The situation intensified throughout 2024–2025, a period during which the LDEA confiscated 9,651.23 kilograms of illegal substances valued at over $4.9 million (LRD 949 million) in nationwide operations.
On Thursday, President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., for administrative reasons dismissed the following officials of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Director General, Mr. Anthony K. Souh, Deputy Director General for Administration, Mr. Gwee K. Porkpah, and Deputy Director General for Operations, Mr. Sebastian Farr. The President made the decision on Thursday, August 28, 2025. At the same time, the Liberian Leader has appointed an Interim Management Team to steer the affairs of the LDEA pending further actions and the appointment of a new management team.
