GANTA — The Law Reform Commission (LRC) says its new five‑year strategy will guide efforts to modernize Liberia’s laws and advance long‑planned constitutional reform, lawmakers and civil‑society representatives heard this week in Ganta.
By D. Franklin Doloquee
At a validation gathering for the strategy, an LRC representative stressed that no statute can conflict with the Constitution,
Commissioner Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah noted that Liberia’s charter—adopted in 1986 is now forty years old and contains provisions that may be obsolete.
“The Constitution remains supreme,” the official said, stating that constitutional reform requires broad participation from political, religious and youth groups to build national consensus.
The strategy document, which will be launched after the validation process concludes, will serve as the Commission’s working plan for the next five years.
From that roadmap, the LRC will develop a one‑year work plan that incorporates priorities from the President’s legislative agenda presented to the Legislature in January.
Key priorities include a new land code, reforms to the Budget and Planning Commission and an infrastructure law measures the Commission says will harmonize, amend and reform laws so Liberians nationwide can benefit.
According to Cllr. Varmah, a major highlight of the Commission’s work is draft legislation to establish Liberia’s first specialized family court.
Developed with the Supreme Court, women’s groups and other stakeholders, the draft consolidates matters now spread across probate, civil and juvenile courts into a single forum.
If passed, the family court would handle divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, guardianship and related civil family matters.
“The family court is a paradigm shift,” the LRC official said, stating the draft envisions two judges, with one assigned to the East‑Central circuit to improve access for rural communities.
The Commission said the proposed court would bring a holistic, specialized approach to family law and has attracted strong public support.
The validation meeting in Ganta runs through Saturday. After the sessions conclude, the LRC plans to return to Monrovia to formally launch the five‑year strategy and begin implementing the one‑year work plan.
The LRC called on citizens across political, religious and social divides to engage in the constitutional reform process and support the Commission’s mandate to modernize Liberia’s laws.
He made the statement during the opening of the three- day five- year strategic plan validation workshop ongoing in Ganta, Nimba County.
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