Can Capacity Building Transform Liberia's Legislature? House Ends Workshop with Push for Stronger Oversight

Margibi, Liberia:Can training alone improve the performance and accountability of Liberia's Legislature? That question came into sharper focus as the House of Representatives wrapped up a two-day capacity-building workshop aimed at equipping lawmakers with the skills needed to strengthen oversight, improve lawmaking, and enhance representation of citizens across the country.

Held at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), the workshop brought together more than 37 lawmakers and members of the House Secretariat to examine ways of improving legislative performance under the theme, "Enhancing Legislative Performance and Accountability in Liberia."

Throughout the sessions, participants received training on parliamentary oversight, legislative procedures, committee systems, budget scrutiny, constituency representation, citizen engagement, ethics, and the separation of powers.

Parliamentary experts, including former Ghanaian lawmaker Hon. Mensah, shared practical experiences on strengthening democratic institutions.

Addressing the opening session, KAS Regional Director for Political Dialogue in West Africa, Dr. Stefanie Brinkel, stressed that an effective Parliament is central to democratic governance. "Strong democratic institutions are the foundation of good governance, sustainable development, and social cohesion," she said, adding that legislatures play a vital role in ensuring governments remain accountable to the people.

At the close of the workshop, Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon praised KAS and the German Embassy for supporting legislative development and encouraged lawmakers to apply the lessons learned. "Continuous capacity building is essential if we are to improve our legislative work and effectively represent the Liberian people," he said.

Speaker Koon also announced that certificates would be presented to participants during Tuesday's plenary session and instructed the House Committee on Education to organize a Training of Trainers program to ensure lawmakers who missed the workshop also benefit from the knowledge acquired.

The initiative reflects ongoing efforts by the House of Representatives and its development partners to strengthen legislative effectiveness, improve accountability, and reinforce democratic governance in Liberia.