Capitol Hill, Monrovia – On the first formal day of legislative duties in the third session, the House of Representatives’ plenary floor became contentious as Speaker Nagbe Koon and Deputy Speaker Thomas P. Fallah faced harsh criticism for improperly steering the debate and decision-making procedures.
Moima Briggs Mensah, the representative for Bong County Electoral District 6, accused the Speaker and his deputy of disregarding the open head count voting process when it comes to important issues like income. She criticized the two for restricting the floor to a YEAH or NAY voting procedure that does not promote accountability in place of the head count procedure, which records each lawmaker’s choice.
The Act to Amend Part 1 of the Liberia Revenue Code by introducing a New Chapter “D” to establish a legal framework for Tax Incentive and Expenditure Management and an Act to Amend the Liberia Code to be referred to as the Liberia Management Act of 2025, which were decided by the House’s regular overwhelming loud noise of YEAH, prompted the Bong County lawmaker to voice concerns.
The House’s Joint Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance and Public Accounts and Expenditure presented a report that prompted a decision on these bills. The outspoken Bong County politician reminded the Speaker and his deputy that significant legislative initiatives should be decided by a headcount vote rather than the customary Yes/No process, which was based on the Yeah choice that required the adoption of the instruments.
According to the member, this would bring Liberia’s legislature into compliance with other globally recognized parliamentary voting norms and international parliamentary organizations like the ECOWAS Parliament. The lawmaker was at the point where Speaker Koon ordered her out due to the increasing volume of her voice that reverberated across the plenary floor, but she disregarded his order and stuck to her seat and advocacy.
” Representative Briggs Mensah insisted on staying in session. I’m saying the correct thing, so I won’t go outside. I refuse to leave, and I will kick you if you get in front of me.”
One of Liberia’s delegates to the ECOWAS Parliament, Rep. Briggs-Mensah, claimed that by utilizing her international expertise from previous years, her forceful debate is meant to bring about constructive change in that august body.
