Monrovia – Former Senator John Ballout of Maryland County has joined ex-President Sirleaf in openly criticizing what he described as the Supreme Court’s “ambiguous” ruling on the leadership crisis in the House of Representatives. Ballout warned that unless the court delivers a clear and unequivocal interpretation of the law, Liberia stands on the verge of a national crisis that could destabilize not only the legislature but also impact the executive and the Senate.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
“We have seen members of the Legislature go to the Supreme Court for interpretation, that’s what is expected… We have three distinct branches. That is designed that way. Today, as the Supreme Court prepares their ruling or debate the pros and cons of both sides, I want to caution the Supreme Court that now more than ever before, they need to remove ambiguity and be very clear in this matter. We are on the verge of national crisis that has not only drawn the House of Representatives, but the Executive and the Senate,” said former Senator Ballout.
A Call for Clarity Amid Growing Political Tensions
Addressing a press conference late Thursday, Ballout called for the need for distinct roles among Liberia’s three branches of government. “We have seen members of the Legislature go to the Supreme Court for interpretation, and that’s what is expected,” he stated. “The legislature makes the law, the judiciary interprets the law, and the executive enforces the law. These are distinct roles designed to maintain the independence of decision-making and safeguard political stability.”
Ballout expressed concern that the current leadership crisis in the House of Representatives had become a major distraction from the nation-building agenda. “Today, as the Supreme Court debates the pros and cons of both sides, I want to caution the court that now, more than ever before, they need to remove ambiguity and be very clear on this matter, unequivocally. We are on the verge of national crisis,” he warned.
Echoes of Past Leadership
Joining Ballout in his criticism, ex-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has previously underscored the importance of judicial clarity in upholding the rule of law.
Madam Sirleaf had earlier warned that ambiguous decisions could further destabilize the legislature, urging the Court to provide a definitive resolution instead of leaving the matter in legal limbo.
“Now is definitely not the time for the Supreme Court to deliver an ambiguous ruling that may take us away from peacefully resolving the disruption unfolding in another important branch of government,” Sirleaf stated during the opening session of the NAYMOTE-Liberia Second Summit on Democracy and Political Accountability in Monrovia.
Their remarks come as key members of the Majority Bloc are expected to appear before the full bench today, March 14 in response to a Bill of Information filed by embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and other members of the fifty fifth Legislature. The writ of summon, signed by Supreme Court Clerk Cllr. Sam Manulu, orders the respondents—including Representative Richard N. Koon, who claims the speakership, and Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah—to justify why the informants’ request should not be granted. The Court also directed them to submit their official returns.
Background of the Crisis
The dispute originates from a petition filed by Speaker Koffa and his allies, who sought the Supreme Court’s intervention in what appeared to be a sustained legislative standoff. Koffa requested clarification on Article 33 of the Constitution regarding quorum requirements and asked the Court to compel boycotting lawmakers to return to session. The boycotting lawmakers installed Richard Koon as Speaker, dissolved committees established by Koffa, and suspended lawmakers loyal to him.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court acknowledged its jurisdiction over constitutional matters but refrained from providing a direct solution. Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh, delivering the unanimous opinion, stated: “Under these circumstances, the Supreme Court cannot do for the Legislature what is within its [legislative] purview to do, as to do so will be a violation of the constitutional mandate on the separation of powers.” The Court ruled that while the Constitution obligates the Speaker to compel absent lawmakers to attend sessions, it does not prescribe how this enforcement should occur. It further declared that any legislative action not in conformity with Articles 33 and 49 of the Constitution is illegal, instructing members of the House to “conduct themselves accordingly.”
However, the ruling did little to resolve the impasse, as both factions claimed victory. Since then, the Majority Bloc—bolstered by its numerical strength and support from the Executive Branch and the Liberian Senate—has assumed full control of the House, rendering Speaker Koffa ineffective.
Legal and Political Ramifications
In a bid for further legal clarity, Speaker Koffa filed a Bill of Information urging the Court to declare the Majority Bloc’s actions unconstitutional. The issue remained unresolved until Associate Justice Yamie Gbeisay, at the opening of the February Term of Court in Nimba County, denounced the Majority Bloc’s actions as “ultra vires”—beyond their legal authority. Justice Gbeisay also noted that the Supreme Court’s decision to boycott President Joseph Boakai’s State of the Nation Address was rooted in the absence of a legally recognized Speaker, undermining the House’s ability to form a valid quorum. “Whatever you do is ultra vires,” he declared, a statement that further intensified political tensions within the legislature.
Implications for National Stability
Both Sirleaf and Ballout stressed that the Supreme Court holds a strategic position in Liberia’s governance structure—one that demands a non-partisan, technical approach to legal interpretation free from political influence. “The final arbiter of justice is the Supreme Court,” Ballout noted, urging the institution to steer clear of political debates and focus solely on the technical aspects of the law.
Ballout’s remarks come as a response to growing unrest in the House of Representatives over the removal of the speaker, an issue that has polarized public opinion across various branches of government. “This debate is dividing the population and creating a big distraction from our efforts to rebuild and unite the nation,” he said. He stressed that the ambiguity in the court’s ruling has led to divergent interpretations among the Ministry of Justice, the executive, and the legislature.
“The Supreme Court, in my view, has the opportunity to salvage what remains of the people’s confidence in the judicial system. They must deliver a ruling that respects our constitution and directs the country based on the rule of law,” Ballout added. He reminded the court of the heavy responsibility that comes with its God-given mandate, concluding, “Who much is given much is required. Use it the right way.”
The House remains deeply divided as the Majority Bloc-led House of Representatives has suspended two lawmakers loyal to Speaker Koffa. According to the Liberia News Agency, Reps. Muka okay. Kamara (District #14, Montserrado County) and Jerry Yogboh (District #12, Montserrado County) have been suspended for missing five consecutive legislative sessions—equivalent to two and a half weeks—without an acceptable excuse, in violation of House Rule 21.1.
Chief Clerk Madam Mildred N. Sayon formally notified the two representatives on Thursday, March 13, that their absences contravened the House’s rules on absenteeism. They now join Rep. Yekeh Kolubah (District #10, Montserrado County), who was previously suspended for 30 session days without salary and benefits, along with several other pro-Koffa lawmakers.
Among those also suspended are Reps. Frank Saah Foko (District #9, Montserrado County), Eugene Kollie (District #3, Montserrado County), Zinnah Normah (District #3, Lofa County), Alex Noah (District #3, Gbarpolu County), Marvin Cole (District #3, Bong County), Abu Kamara (District #15, Montserrado County) and Edward Papay Flomo (District #13, Montserrado County).
These latest suspensions come as the Majority Bloc-led House embarks on a reconciliation retreat aimed at mending differences among rival groups of lawmakers. Notably, Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin is currently in Liberia as a guest ahead of a parliamentary delegation. Although the Rule of Law Caucus has boycotted the event, sources indicate that Bagbin is expected to meet separately with members of rival factions in a bid to mediate the growing tensions.
A Pivotal Moment for Liberia
As Liberia grapples with the fallout of the legislative crisis, former Senator Ballout’s impassioned appeal underscores the urgency of a decisive judicial intervention. His call for clarity serves as a reminder that the stability of the nation depends on all branches of government adhering to their constitutionally defined roles—ensuring that the painful lessons of the past, including the scars of a civil war that claimed countless lives and set back generations, are not repeated.
With the eyes of the nation and international observers fixed on the unfolding events, the coming days are critical. The Supreme Court’s forthcoming ruling is anticipated to not only resolve the current impasse but also set a precedent for the future governance of Liberia.