By Monrovia, Liberia – The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), represented by its Secretary General, Jefferson Koijee, has taken a firm stance against what it calls the “evil Abortion Bill” currently under consideration by the Liberian Senate. The bill, introduced by Sinoe County Senator Augustine Chea in June 2022, seeks to amend existing health laws to legalize abortion in Liberia. While Senate Pro-tempore Albert Chie clarified in August 2023 that there is no standalone bill on abortion before the Senate, the CDC remains resolute in its opposition.
Speaking at the CDC headquarters on Tuesday, September 13, 2023, Koijee emphasized that the party categorically rejects such a law if it were to be passed by the Senate and concurred with by the House of Representatives. Koijee further explained that the CDC’s goal is to ensure Liberia’s population growth competes with that of its Nigerian counterpart. Under President George Weah’s leadership, the regime aims to encourage citizens to multiply, making it clear that any bill perceived as detrimental to this objective would not be welcomed.
The CDC’s unwavering resistance to the abortion bill underscores the deeply held convictions within the party regarding issues related to population growth and reproductive rights. As the debate over the bill continues in Liberia’s political landscape, it remains to be seen how the government, legislators, and civil society will engage with this contentious issue that touches on matters of public health, morality, and individual choice.
The Coalition for Democratic Change through its Secretary General, Jefferson Koijee, has vowed to resist the law what it called the evil Abortion Bill currently lying before the Liberian Senate.
It can be recalled that in June of 2022, Sinoe County Senator and Chair on the Senate Committee on Health, Augustine Chea initiated a bill craving that august body to amend the existing health law to legalize abortion in Liberia.
In a reaction to these speculations, Senate Pro-tempore Albert Chie in August, 2023, clarified that there is no stand-alone bill on abortion before the Liberian Senate contrary to public perceptions.
But speaking at the headquarters of the Coalition for Democratic Change on Tuesday, September 13, 2023, Koiee, emphasized that the party will not accept such a law if passed by the Senate and concurred with by the House of Representatives.
Mr. Koijee added that the CDC wants to ensure that Liberia competes with her Nigeria counterpart in population growth, noting that the President George Weah regime opts to see its citizens multiply and as such, an evil bill of that nature can never be welcomed.
By: Sadia M. Mohammed
