“REFORM IS NOT OPTIONAL” – CSA BOSS DR. JOEKAI PUSHES FOR URGENT MODERNIZATION OF LIBERIA’S 1986 CONSTITUTION, CITES GOVERNANCE GAPS
BY: Rufus Divine Brooks Jr
MONROVIA – Civil Service Agency Director General Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr. has called for urgent constitutional reform, warning that Liberia’s 1986 Constitution is outdated and ill-equipped to address modern governance, decentralization, and development needs.
Presenting a scholarly paper Thursday at a Governance Commission and Law Reform Commission public dialogue in Monrovia, Dr. Joekai said constitutional modernization is “a strategic necessity, not an option” for a post-conflict nation seeking peace consolidation and economic growth.
Dr. Joekai, who shared the platform with legal luminaries including former Chief Justice Cllr. Gloria Musu-Scott, former Associate Justice Cllr. Philip Banks, and LRC Chairman Cllr. Bornor Varmah, argued that the Constitution was drafted before Liberia’s civil war, before decentralization, and before debates on inclusion, transparency, and technology shaped governance.
“A stable constitutional framework increases investor confidence, improves policy predictability, and strengthens property rights,” he said. “Reform can also enhance social cohesion by addressing historical grievances and expanding participation.”
Eight Priority Areas Identified:
Drawing from the Constitutional Review Committee consultations and the Gloria Scott Committee Report, Dr. Joekai listed key areas needing reform:
Decentralization: Replace presidential appointment of superintendents under Article 54 with elected local officials to boost accountability.
Presidential Tenure: Reduce the six-year term under Article 50 to five years while keeping term limits.
Legislative Tenure: Shorten nine-year Senate terms and six-year House terms to improve responsiveness.
Citizenship: Review Article 27, which limits citizenship to persons of Negro descent, to reflect diaspora and investment realities.
Judicial Reform: Create regional appellate courts under Article 66 to expand access to justice.
Gender Equality: Strengthen constitutional protections for women’s political and economic rights beyond Article 11.
Disability Inclusion: Add explicit guarantees for persons with disabilities.
Anti-Corruption: Fortify oversight institutions and transparency mechanisms.
“Archaic” Provisions Flagged :
He also cited outdated provisions including Article 54’s concentration of presidential appointment powers, Article 97’s broad legislative immunity, and the Constitution’s silence on digital governance, cybersecurity, and environmental issues.
Dr. Joekai urged government to establish a National Constitutional Reform Roadmap led by the Governance Commission, conduct technical review of the Gloria Scott Report, launch civic education, hold county and diaspora consultations, convene a National Constitutional Conference, and submit amendments to a national referendum as required by Articles 91 and 92.
He commended the Governance Commission for hosting the dialogue and urged stakeholders to translate recommendations into action with political will.
The 1986 Constitution has faced calls for revision for years, but no comprehensive amendment has passed since its adoption.
Dr. Joekai’s paper adds momentum to renewed debate ahead of Liberia’s next electoral cycle.