Monrovia, Liberia – July 9, 2026 – The Public Affairs Department of the Liberian Senate has dismissed as “false and misleading” claims by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Laymah Roberta Gbowee that children under her mentorship were denied access to the Senate Chambers during a planned visit to the Capitol Building.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Senate said Madam Gbowee’s account of the incident does not accurately reflect what transpired, maintaining that no request for the children’s visit was ever communicated directly to the Senate’s leadership.
According to the Senate, the Office of the President Pro Tempore received correspondence at 1:25 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, from David S. Konneh, requesting that the Senate host Madam Gbowee’s mentees and provide them with lunch.
The statement explained that when Madam Gbowee and the children arrived at the Capitol on Thursday, July 9, senators were engaged in a consultative meeting in preparation for the day’s legislative session, which included a lengthy agenda.
The Senate said that rather than waiting for the meeting to conclude, Madam Gbowee became impatient and proceeded to speak to the media, alleging that the children had been denied access to the Senate Chambers. The Senate also claimed that during her remarks, Gbowee expressed her unwillingness to refer to senators as “Honorable.”
The Public Affairs Department defended Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, describing her as both a mother and mentor who would never intentionally prevent children from visiting the chamber where lawmakers deliberate on national issues.
“The President Pro Tempore, being a mother and a mentor to many children, will never deny any child the opportunity to see where their Senators gather to debate issues of national concern,” the statement said.
The Senate further described Gbowee’s reported statement, “I will not call any of them Honorable,” as disrespectful toward Liberia’s national leaders.
The statement called on Madam Gbowee to openly address any concerns she may have with members of the Legislature, particularly the Senate, instead of using the children’s visit as what it described as a “scapegoat.”
The Senate also noted that Madam Gbowee and participants in her mentorship foundation have previously been welcomed to the Capitol on several occasions.
According to the release, Gbowee and the children have twice addressed senators in the Senate Chambers and have previously interacted with President Pro Tempore Lawrence and other members of the Senate.
The Public Affairs Department described the latest incident as unfortunate, emphasizing that the Senate has consistently welcomed educational visits by young Liberians.
The statement was signed by Hon. Augustine T. Saah, Director of Press and Public Affairs of the Liberian Senate.
Madam Gbowee had earlier publicly alleged that children participating in her mentorship program were denied access to the Senate Chambers during their visit to the Capitol. The Senate’s statement represents its response to those allegations.
