MONROVIA – A standoff is emerging between the Executive Protection Service (EPS) and opposition figures, spotlighting deepening tensions within the country’s political and security landscape. 

By Jaheim T. Tumu, jaheimt.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com

The controversy follows a warning from the EPS Wednesday that it will withdraw protection from any VIP who incites rebellion or violence — a statement widely interpreted as a response to former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor’s recent warnings of “chaos.”

While the EPS did not explicitly name Taylor, its strongly worded statement came just days after she accused President Joseph Boakai of undermining the Supreme Court and suggested that Liberia is on the brink of instability if the rule of law is not upheld.

“President Boakai, you must follow the mandate from the Supreme Court,” Taylor said. “We either do chaos or we do calm where our country can move forward. This is the choice we have today.”

Taylor’s comments followed a Supreme Court ruling in the ongoing power struggle at the House of Representatives, where embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa faces an attempted ouster by a self-proclaimed “Majority Bloc” led by Representative Richard Nagbe Koon. 

Taylor criticized the President’s alleged failure to enforce the Court’s decision, framing it as a constitutional crisis with far-reaching consequences.

Her remarks were bold — and provocative — but not without precedence. During the 2023 presidential campaign, then-candidate Boakai himself warned: “If you think you will steal this election, we will not allow it because if you do it, that’s the end of this country.”

Critics argue both statements reflect the political tradition of brinkmanship in Liberia, where leaders often use dramatic language to appeal to their bases. However, the EPS now appears ready to redefine the boundaries of such speech when it involves individuals under its protection.

“A protectee who actively engages in or incites violence or rebellion against the Government forfeits the privilege of EPS protection,” said EPS Director Sam Gaye. He added that such conduct “directly contradicts the EPS’ constitutional and operational responsibilities.”

Gaye emphasized that the EPS remains committed to “professional, impartial, and robust protection,” but made clear that protection will not be extended to those viewed as threatening Liberia’s peace and security. 

EPS Response Sparks Backlash 

The opposition has responded with forceful pushback. Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) Secretary General Jefferson Koijee labeled the EPS statement “a shameful, hollow, and legally baseless attempt to intimidate critics of the ruling regime.”

“Sam Gaye is a classical joker, a morally bankrupt puppet, and a spineless bureaucrat willing to gamble national integrity at the altar of tyrannical loyalty,” Koijee wrote in a fiery post on social media.

Koijee accused the EPS of abandoning its neutral constitutional mandate and acting as “a private militia for the blood-stained Unity Party regime.” He warned that the CDC will not be cowed, declaring, “This land is ours, and no recycled dictatorship will outlast the people’s resolve.”

Adding to the criticism, Margibi County Senator Nathaniel McGill, himself a former minister under the CDC-led administration, cautioned, “There are officials around the President who are giving him bad advice. But if anything goes wrong, the President himself will be held accountable. Liberia is a democracy, and the rule of law must not be compromised.” 

Gov’t Officials Defend EPS

Government officials have rushed to defend the EPS and condemn the opposition’s rhetoric. Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah described figures like Taylor as “agents of violence” unable to thrive in a peaceful environment.

In a statement laced with mockery, Piah said, “When I watch the video, I personally had empathy. Because I cannot thrive in the midst of chaos if I’m walking with a stick. It means I cannot walk well. It means I can’t run, and when chaos is unleashed I could be victim number one.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Selena Mappy, appeared to support the EPS’s stance, reacting to a Facebook post by stating, “Damn right, you talk nonsense with your mouth because you got security protection.”

Free Speech or Security Threat?

The debate now centers on whether the EPS’s policy crosses into censorship or is a necessary step to safeguard national stability. Critics argue that the statements by both Boakai and Taylor fall within the bounds of free speech and political expression. 

Others contend that in a post-war society like Liberia, political leaders must exercise greater caution given the fragility of peace.

Public reactions remain divided. “Is this government really practicing democracy?” asked citizen Lusine Dukuly. “What is the fear when you are doing well and your citizens are pleased with you? Protest has nothing to do with citizens’ happiness.”

The EPS’s stance — and the government’s response — has opened a broader conversation about how Liberia balances national security with democratic freedoms. As political tensions simmer, the coming weeks may prove pivotal in defining the line between dissent and destabilization.

The Parliament of Ghana has officially extended an invitation to Richard Nagbe Koon, the Majority Bloc Speaker of Liberia’s House of Representatives, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Ghana’s President-elect and Vice President-elect, in what has been viewed as a surprising turn of events, following earlier information that Embattled Speaker, J. Fonati Koffa was earlier invited.

By Willie N. Tokpah

 The ceremony is set to take place on Monday, January 7, 2025, in Accra, Ghana.

The invitation, signed by Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, emphasizes the importance of fostering regional parliamentary cooperation and strengthening democratic values across the African continent.

However, the diplomatic gesture has sparked debates back in Liberia, where the legitimacy of Speaker Koon’s position remains contested.

The Liberian House of Representatives has been mired in a leadership dispute following the contentious majority bloc decision to install Richard Nagbe Koon as Speaker, a move that sidelined embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.

This shift has fueled speculations about how Ghana’s Parliament views the internal dynamics of Liberia’s legislative leadership.

The invitation to Koon is being seen as an implicit endorsement of his position, further complicating the already heated political atmosphere in Monrovia.

Legislative observers argue that this could bolster Koon’s claim to the speakership, while potentially undermining Koffa’s efforts to regain control.

In his invitation letter, Speaker Bagbin emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration among African parliaments, a sentiment that could resonate amid Liberia’s political divide.

The Ghanaian Parliament also offered accommodations for Koon and two accompanying officials, ensuring a warm reception for the Majority Bloc Speaker.

The invitation to Koon highlights the interconnectedness of African democracies as Ghana prepares for a smooth political transition.

It also underscores the role of regional partnerships in navigating political transitions and fostering governance reforms.

Meanwhile, back in Liberia, the political class and the public remain divided over the legitimacy of the speakership.

Whether this international recognition will sway public opinion or parliamentary proceedings remains to be seen.

CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – Representative Richard Nagbe Koon (District #11, Montserrado County) has clarified that he has no plans to challenge Speaker Koffa for his position.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh – gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com

Rep. Koon, a prominent member of the ruling Unity Party, narrowly lost to Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). Speculations arose after his defeat suggesting that Rep. Koon, supported by the ruling Unity Party Alliance, was maneuvering to gather enough support to unseat the Speaker. Rep. Yekeh Kolubah (District #10, Montserrado County) alleged that the UP-led government, through Rep. Koon, financially induced him and some House members to support Koon’s bid.

However, Rep. Koon, in an interview with FrontPage Africa, denied any plans to remove the Speaker, stating, “I have no plan [to remove the Speaker],” Rep. Koon said. “Maybe, we will wait for 2029, but not for now. One good thing is that I still have the support of my members, and I know we can work things out to promote the ARREST agenda in the best way possible.”

Regarding a recent meeting with President Joseph Boakai and other top officials of the Unity Party-led government in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, Rep. Koon clarified that the Unity Party is currently not considering challenging for the speakership position, but is focused on engaging lawmakers, especially those from the opposition, to secure budgetary support for the ARREST agenda. He explained that the meeting aimed to rally support for the government’s ARREST Agenda – an acronym representing Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism.

Rep. Koon acknowledged that the Unity Party Alliance does not hold the majority in the House and thus needs to strategize to reach out to opposition colleagues for support, especially for the Government’s ARREST agenda. He noted that the current draft budget does not adequately support key pillars of the agenda, leading to a resolution signed by the executive and Unity Party Alliance lawmakers in Tubmanburg to work together to secure legislative support.

“There is nothing in that budget that supports a particular pillar of the ARREST agenda. So, it was on that basis we had that meeting to present all of the faults on the budget, and what we think we can do on the floor legislatively,” he said. “To get them together, we have to be very persuasive.”