News Story

[Trokon Freeman]

Speaker Koon calls for diplomatic support as House pursues institutional reforms

By: Trokon A. Freeman/0777973957

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Richard Nagbe Koon, has called on the diplomatic community to support the legislature’s ongoing reform agenda aimed at strengthening democratic governance and institutional accountability in Liberia.

Speaking in Monrovia during an engagement with members of the diplomatic corps on Friday, March 13, 2026, Speaker Koon disclosed that the House is currently pursuing a series of institutional and constitutional reforms designed to modernize Liberia’s legislative framework and improve transparency in governance.

Discussions are ongoing around potential amendments to the Constitution of Liberia, with lawmakers reviewing several key provisions they believe require reform.

Among the proposed changes being considered are the reduction of the terms of elected officials, including the president and members of the legislature. Lawmakers are also discussing proposals that would allow for the direct election of county superintendents and other local government officials.

Speaker Koon also highlighted efforts by the House to advance proposed redistricting legislation aimed at ensuring fair and balanced representation across Liberia’s electoral constituencies.

“We’re reviewing the proposed redistricting legislation aimed at ensuring fair and balanced representation across our electoral constituencies. This effort is closely tied to ongoing conversations surrounding reforms to Liberia’s electoral framework, including the review of aspects of the elections law intended to strengthen transparency, credibility, and public confidence in our democratic processes”.

He stressed that such reforms are time-sensitive, particularly in keeping with international best practices that require laws affecting elections to be enacted at least one year before an election.

In addition to constitutional and electoral reforms, the speaker told the diplomats that accountability and institutional integrity remain central to the legislative agenda.

“Over the past year, the House has taken several steps to strengthen its internal governance, including the establishment of an Internal Audit Department to enhance financial oversight and improve institutional accountability”.

The legislature has also initiated collaboration with the General Auditing Commission to conduct a comprehensive systems audit of the House. According to the Speaker, the move is intended to strengthen transparency and improve administrative processes within the institution.

“We have also welcomed and initiated collaboration with the General Auditing Commission to conduct a comprehensive systems audit of the House. This is an important step toward strengthening transparency and improving our administrative processes”.

Furthermore, the House leadership is promoting measures to strengthen voting on the record, ensuring that legislative decisions are properly documented in ways that enhance transparency and public trust.

“Additionally, the House leadership is actively promoting measures to strengthen voting on the record, ensuring that legislative decisions are documented in ways that enhance transparency and public trust”.

Speaker Koon said the progress made over the past twelve months reflects a deliberate effort by the leadership of the House to modernize legislative operations, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and align Liberia’s legislative practices with democratic best standards, saying meaningful reforms cannot be achieved in isolation.

“The success of many of these initiatives will require sustained technical cooperation, institutional partnerships, and constructive engagement with the international community”.

In that spirit, Speaker Koon urged Liberia’s international partners and members of the diplomatic community to continue supporting the country’s legislative reform agenda.