A Dangerous Precedent--As Rep. Bility Decries Passage of New NPA Act

Friday, June 27, 2025

Representative Musa Hassan Bility has issued a powerful public statement decrying what he describes as a grave violation of democratic principles by the National Legislature. His comments come in response to the recent passage of an amendment to the Act establishing the National Port Authority (NPA), which authorizes the creation of several autonomous ports across Liberia. In a sharply worded release, Representative Bility expressed deep concern over the manner in which the amendment was passed without public consultation, expert analysis, or the inclusion of critical stakeholders. According to Bility, the process lacked transparency, accountability, and respect for legislative norms, undermining both public trust and the integrity of the lawmaking process. “This is a matter of national significance. It affects commerce, sovereignty, fiscal oversight, and the future structure of our economy,” Bility wrote. “And yet, it was passed without public hearings, without expert opinions, and without the involvement of key stakeholders.” 

Bility highlighted what he termed the “speed and secrecy” with which the House of Representatives approved the Senate’s version of the bill. According to him, many legislators were not even afforded the opportunity to review, debate, or amend the bill before it was hurriedly passed. “Even more alarming is the speed and secrecy with which the House of Representatives concurred with the Senate’s version of the bill, effectively rubber-stamping a law that many of us had no opportunity to even read, let alone debate or refine. This is not how laws should be made in a democracy. This is not why the people sent us to Capitol Hill.” In his statement, Bility framed the issue as one that transcends a single bill. He called it symptomatic of a broader and more dangerous trend one where the Legislature is being increasingly sidelined and reduced to an extension of the Executive Branch. This, he warned, threatens the foundational checks and balances enshrined in Liberia’s Constitution. “What happened is shameful. It is a betrayal, not only of our constitutional responsibility as legislators, but of the very principles for which countless Liberians have fought and died. We have surrendered our oversight role. We have abdicated our mandate to ensure checks and balances. We have dangerously reduced the Legislature to an auxiliary of the Executive.” 

Calling the situation a “perilous precedent,” Bility emphasized the long-term implications of such legislative conduct. If the Legislature continues to pass major laws without scrutiny or public participation, Liberia risks transforming from a representative democracy into a mere shell of one. “If we allow critical national decisions to be made in silence and secrecy, without scrutiny or participation, then we are no longer a functioning democracy we are a façade,” he warned. Bility also issued a clarion call to his fellow legislators, urging them to reflect on their roles and responsibilities, and to recommit themselves to the values of accountability and transparency. “I call on my colleagues to reflect deeply. The 55th Legislature will be remembered. And if we do not change course, history will judge us not as guardians of the people’s trust, but as its violators.” The creation of autonomous ports, if done without sufficient oversight, could open the door to unchecked privatization, regulatory loopholes, and erosion of national sovereignty over critical infrastructure. Bility’s concerns are grounded not only in procedure but in the substance of the bill itself arguing that decisions of such magnitude must undergo rigorous public and legislative scrutiny. 

As Liberia continues to rebuild its institutions and strengthen its democratic processes, the importance of legislative independence and diligence cannot be overstated. Bility’s warning is not merely political it is a call to preserve the democratic fabric of the nation. “Let us not continue down this path. Liberia deserves better.” Musa Hassan Bility is a Member of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature. A vocal advocate for transparency, democratic reform, and fiscal accountability, Representative Bility has long championed institutional integrity and good governance in Liberia.