The 55th House of Representatives, led by Speaker Richard Koon, on Thursday, February 27, 2026 shocked many Liberians after abandoning their Constitutional plenary sitting to witness the removal of the first batch of yellow machines from the Freeport of Monrovia to Camp Ware in Careysburg.
Based on operational guidelines, the National Legislature’s regular plenary sittings are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m., at the Capitol Building to discuss, debate, and pass legislation. Mondays and Wednesdays are typically dedicated to committee meetings and hearings.
However, to the utmost surprise of the nation, on last Thursday majority members of the House of Representatives were seen dressed in yellow at the Freeport of Monrovia to rain praises on President Boakai for the arrival of the yellow equipment, with observers wondering if they, who are supposed to provide check and balance, hold the Executive branch to account, and protect the interests of Liberians, have reduced themselves to being cheerleaders for President Boakai and his appointees.
After the departure of the machines, the lawmakers headed to the Executive Mansion for what they described as acknowledging the arrival of the yellow machines and to thank the President for the initiative.
At the Executive Mansion, Speaker Koon spoke on behalf of the lawmakers, and described the arrival of the equipment as a “new dawn” for Liberia’s road sector. Koon further declared the day as “National Yellow Machine Day”.
Consequently, the House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on Concession Compliance Review, headed by Bong County Representative Foday Fahnbulleh, cancelled an important site visit to China Union and postponed the function to this week. He claimed that the cancellation was to enable members to attend important family graduation ceremonies, and carry out official responsibilities related to the University of Liberia’s graduation.
The lawmakers’ action was strongly condemned and regarded as shameful.
Nimba County’s Senator, Taa Wongbe, called out the lawmakers for their reckless action, and described it as a disservice to every Liberian who expects better from their Representatives. “Shame on you all who went,” he said.
Senator Wongbe observed that when lawmakers trade the responsibility of holding the Executive to account for photo-ops and political pageantry, they degrade not only the dignity of the National Legislature, but the very promise of the nation’s democracy.
According to him, President Boakai should have sent those sycophants back to do their duties instead of welcoming them and basking in their weightless praises. “This was shameful, Mr. President! You are a President who usually exhibit wisdom. You didn’t this time. It was disgraceful,” he pointed out.
“We’ve been here before…and we have seen this movie before. During the CDC era, sycophants who supported that regime were jolly jollying in red berets and we saw what happened in 2023. Some have forgotten how an uncontested Speaker for six years was whopped massively until he was confused. Populism without accountability has a short shelf life.
“We must reclaim what our people entrusted to us: responsibility over theatrics, independence over partisanship, and governance over political theatre. This week was not just unfortunate; it was a disservice to every Liberian who expects better from their Representatives. Our House is a mess,” he noted.
