Delegates who attended Liberia's three-day National Constitutional Reform Symposium in Ganta City, Nimba County, have agreed and signed a resolution setting out their recommendations for a broad national review of the country's 1986 Constitution. The proposed resolution will provide a basis for wider consultations on whether Liberia should amend specific constitutional provisions or pursue a more comprehensive rewriting of the 40-year-old document.
The agreement to prepare the resolution does not in itself constitute a final national decision to replace the Constitution. Once finalized, the document is expected to be presented for consideration by the Executive Branch, the Judiciary, the House of Representatives, the Senate, civil-society organizations, traditional chiefs and elders, the media, youth organizations, women's groups, People living with disability, organizations representing persons with disabilities, political parties representations, Superintendents Council representations, counties nine men council members and other stakeholders.
Delegates emphasized that the future of the Constitution should not be determined solely by political leaders, legal experts or participants at a single gathering. Instead, they called for an inclusive, transparent, and nationally owned process that gives Liberians across all 15 counties a meaningful opportunity to contribute. The symposium was convened by the Governance Commission and the Law Reform Commission, with support from the United Nations Development Programme, under the theme: "Advancing Constitutional Reform through National Ownership, Inclusion and Democratic Governance."
Participants included representatives of government ministries and agencies, lawmakers, lawyers, civil-society organizations, professional bodies, traditional authorities, women, young people and persons with disabilities. Their agreement to develop a resolution marks a step toward consolidating the discussions into a common document. The resolution is intended to bring together areas of agreement, identify questions requiring further examination and outline a possible direction for nationwide engagement.
At the center of the proposed national review is a fundamental question: can targeted amendments adequately address Liberia's present governance challenges, or is a more comprehensive constitutional overhaul necessary? That question remains open for wider public discussion and legal examination. The delegates' recommendations are, therefore, intended to inform a national decision, rather than substitute for one. Liberia marks four decades under its 1986 Constitution, and participants said the country must assess whether its constitutional framework adequately reflects contemporary political, social, economic and governance realities.
During thematic discussions, delegates identified several areas for possible constitutional and legal review: Citizenship and property rights, Natural-resource governance and equitable benefit-sharing, Decentralization, local government and citizen participation. The tenure, accountability and performance of elected officials. Traditional authority, customary rights, and their relationship with state institutions. Checks and balances among the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. Fundamental rights, inclusion and public accountability.
Governance Commission Acting Chairman Professor Alaric K. Tokpa has urged that constitutional reform remain nationally owned, inclusive, and focused on practical improvements in governance. Civil Service Agency Director-General Dr. Josiah F. Joekai called for reforms addressing excessive political influence, institutional weaknesses, and inadequate accountability. The proposed Ganta resolution is expected to guide further consultations, stakeholder engagement and technical legal review.
Key points
- The resolution aims to bring together areas of agreement and identify questions requiring further examination for a possible national review of Liberia's 1986 Constitution.
- Delegates emphasized the need for an inclusive, transparent, and nationally owned process that gives Liberians across all 15 counties a meaningful opportunity to contribute.
- The proposed review will focus on several areas, including citizenship and property rights, natural-resource governance, decentralization, and fundamental rights.
