MONROVIA – Former Speaker of the 55th National Legislature and current Representative of Grand Kru County District #2, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, has strongly criticized the Liberian government’s response to comments allegedly made by Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, warning that the administration’s actions threaten democratic freedoms in the country.
Speaking on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Koffa condemned what he described as a deliberate attempt by the government to criminalize a paraphrased version of Senator Snowe’s remarks. “The government’s attempt to paraphrase Senator Snowe’s comment, and then criminalize it, undermines our democracy and has a chilling effect on the opposition in a manner unhealthy for our democracy. The Ministry of Information must retract its press release,” Koffa asserted.
The controversy stems from a statement issued by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) on Saturday, May 24, in which the government accused Senator Snowe of threatening to use his connections within ECOWAS to destabilize the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. The statement alleged that Snowe had vowed to block foreign investment and render Liberia ungovernable until he becomes President.
The government condemned what it termed “irresponsible and inflammatory” rhetoric, calling on ECOWAS and other international organizations to ignore any efforts by Snowe or his alleged collaborators to undermine the Liberian state. The statement emphasized that no citizen is authorized to pursue personal ambitions by threatening national peace and security, and reassured Liberians of the government’s commitment to stability and prosperity.
In response, Senator Snowe, currently on an official ECOWAS mission in Sweden, issued a rebuttal on May 25, categorically denying the accusations. He described the government’s statement as false, defamatory, and politically motivated. “I categorically reject and condemn these allegations as entirely baseless, malicious, and politically motivated,” Snowe stated. “At no point have I made any statement that could be interpreted as inciting panic, promoting instability, or threatening the democratic order of our country.”
Snowe expressed concern over the seriousness of the accusations, noting that they amount to an implicit charge of treason, one of the gravest offenses under Liberia’s Constitution. He warned that the government’s actions not only damage his personal reputation but also pose a threat to civil liberties and the rule of law.
As the controversy unfolds, political observers have begun to question whether the government’s response signals a wider pattern of intolerance toward dissent. Koffa’s remarks reflect growing concerns within the opposition that the Boakai administration may be using state power to suppress critical voices and weaken democratic institutions.
