Law Reform Commission - Liberia

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Hon. Sam A. Stevquoah paid a working visit to the offices of the Law Reform Commission (LRC), in Mamba Point, Monrovia to acquaint himself with the work the LRC does in keeping with its statutory mandate. Minister Stevquoah told the Board of Commissioners, employees and staff of the LRC, that he had also gone to the Commission to convey a special message from His Excellency, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, who values the rule of law, and the Law Reform Commission has a fundamental role to play in enhancing the rule of law in Liberia. Minister Stevquoah then iterated that his presence at the Commission was to commend the LRC team and offer support, encouragement and to assure that the work that Commission does is valuable to President Boakai and the Government of Liberia ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.

Following the Minister Stevquoah’s working visit, LRC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah spoke to the media and outlined some of the key activities and programs the Commission has carried out, and progress made as well as achievements made in the revision of laws, writing of statutes, codification, gender and human rights, among many others. Below is the full interview Cllr. Varmah had with the Liberian media.

05/08/2026

Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Sam A. Stevquoah Visits LRC to Reassure President Boakai’s Support for Rule of Law – Lauds Chairman/CEO, Board of Commissioners and Staff for Commitment to the ARREST Agenda.

At the Law Reform Commission, Minister Stevquoah held discussions with the Chairman/CEO Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, the Boad of Commissioners – Vice Chairperson Cllr. Felicia V. Coleman, Commissioner Cllr. Massa Jallabah and Executive Director Cllr. Ramses T. Kumbuyah, where he was adequately briefed about the programs and ongoing activities of the LRC, including revision of and writing of statutes, codification of Supreme Court Opinions, as well gains made at the Commission in the face of challenges. Cllr. Varmah talked about the need for recruiting additional lawyers, as well as the need to rewrite the Constitution of Liberia which has become a public outcry in recent years, among many others. On his part, Minister Stevquoah on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai acknowledged the good works of the Law Reform Commission in its strife to support the Government of Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. He then thanked the Board of Commissioners and Staff of the LRC for their dedication in carry out its statutory mandate for law reform in Liberia. Details to follow.

04/08/2026

https://theliberianpost.com/un-human-rights-office-donates-equipment-to-law-reform-commission-to-advance-human-rights-anti-corruption-and-transitional-justice-agenda/

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29/07/2026

UN-OHCHR Liberia Gifts LRC to Strengthen Intercessions in Human Rights, Anti-Corruption, and Transitional Justice Processes

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has handed over to the Law Reform Commission (LRC) important equipment composed of laptops, printers, state of the art camera, and stationery to support LRC’s work on transitional justice processes in Liberia.

The donation, which was presented to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the LRC, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, underlines OHCHR’s ongoing efforts to enhance the capacity of key national institutions to contribute meaningfully to the protection of human rights, accountability, justice, and reconciliation mechanisms in the country, particularly in relation to responses to past gross human rights violations and corruption-related offences.

Speaking at the ceremony, the OHCHR Representative in Liberia, Christian Mukosa, reaffirmed the Office’s commitment to supporting national stakeholders in operationalizing victim-centered transitional justice judicial and non- judicial mechanisms.

“OHCHR remains committed to strengthening the capacity of national institutions to ensure that the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) and the National Anti-Corruption Court (NACC) planned to be soon operational are inclusive, credible, and responsive to the needs of victims. By equipping the LRC with these resources, we are reinforcing national efforts to advance the adoption of a legal framework for the WECC and NACC that are human rights-based and victim-centered” he stated.

As the establishment of a the WECC and NACC progresses with the submission of various bills to the Legislature, the LRC intends to conduct a thorough review of Liberia’s legal framework related to the judicial response to past serious human rights violations and to corruption-related offences, considering international norms and standards.

The Law Reform Commission (LRC) was established by an Act of the Legislature of Liberia in 2011. Its primary mission is to keep the laws of Liberia under review and to ensure the systematic development and reform, including unification and codification of the laws.

He further emphasized that “sustained collaboration with national partners is essential to ensuring that key transitional justice initiatives, including efforts toward the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court and other accountability institutions, are grounded in strong legal and human rights frameworks”.

The Embassy of Sweden, a long-standing partner in Liberia’s governance and justice sector reforms, reaffirmed its continued support to transitional justice initiatives in the country. The Embassy highlighted that strengthening the capacity of the LRC is central to ensuring that future transitional justice mechanisms are grounded in a strong legal framework aligned with international human rights standards. Since January 2025, the Embassy of Sweden supports OHCHR financially to reinforce the capacity of key national actors, including the Office for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia (OWECC-L), the Independent National Commission for Human Rights (INCHR), the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), civil society organizations, academia, and the media to contribute meaningfully and substantively to the development of a comprehensive and coordinated transitional justice process in the country.

The support provided through this initiative will enable the LRC to deepen its capacity to under review and to ensure systematic development and reform, including unification and codification of the laws, especially in the context of the establishment of the WECC and the NACC.

Receiving the materials on behalf of the LRC, Cllr. Varmah expressed appreciation to OHCHR and Sweden for their continued partnership, support, and commitment to strengthening the justice sector in Liberia, especially ahead of the establishment of the WECC and NACC. The LRC as the sole institution of Government charged with the responsibility to keep under review all laws of the Republic will continue to endeavor to ensure that laws are drafted to respond to prevailing realities.
“The Commission will continue to work with the OWECC-Liberia and other transitional justice actors in ensuring that the rule of law is enhanced at all levels; that the rights and dignity of the human person is protected.”

He concluded by once more extending thanks to the OHCHR family and the Swedish Government for the support they continue to extend to the rule of law section, including the LRC. He recounted that the support is not the first of its kind as the OHCHR was instrumental in setting up a Gender and Human Rights Desk at the LRC and provided the needy material and technical support to jump start the GHRD. The Commission he said looks forward to the continuous collaboration subsisting between the two institutions.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts by OHCHR and partners to ensure that justice in Liberia is pursued by judicial institutions designed based on international legal standards and best practices to ensure the implementation of a victim-centered judicial response to past human rights violations and corruption-related offences. In this regard, OHCHR is further partnering with the LRC to support the recruitment of a national consultant that will support the LRC in conducting a thorough review of Liberia’s legal framework related to the judicial response to corruption-related offences considering international norms and standards to ensure the statutes of the future NACC can concretize the government’s vision for the fight against impunity for corruption-related offences.

25/06/2026

“Proposed LNRA Act Will Reposition Railways as Strategic Nat’l Assets and Unlock Significant Economic Opportunities” – LRC Chair/CEO, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Law Reform Commission (LRC), Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah says the current proposed Liberia National Railways Authority (LNRA) Act that is being validated by major stakeholders, including the Law Reform Commission, Ministry of Justice, the Liaison Office – Liberia National Railways Authority, Governance Commission, Ministry of Transport, National Investment Commission, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Mines & Energy, Railway Technical Experts, Mining Experts, development partners among many others, when enacted, will reposition railways as strategic national assets serving multiple users and sectors of the economy.

According to Cllr. Varmah, under this new framework, Liberia can move toward a system that promotes greater transparency, competitive access, regulatory certainty, infrastructure expansion, and national development planning, adding, “This shift has the potential to unlock significant economic opportunities”.

Delivering a special statement at a one-day National Validation Workshop for the Draft Liberia National Railway Authority Act of 2026 on Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Monrovia in the Conference Room of the Ministry of Mines and Energy on Capitol Hill, the Law Reform Commission Chairman/CEO outlined five key economic dividends Liberia will reap when the Act is passed into law:

• “First, it can enhance investor confidence by providing a predictable legal and regulatory environment for railway operations and infrastructure development.

• Second, it can facilitate increased mining production and exports by improving transportation efficiency and reducing logistical bottlenecks.

• Third, it can support agricultural commercialization by enabling farmers and agribusinesses to transport goods more efficiently from production centers to domestic and international markets.

• Fourth, it can stimulate industrial development by lowering transportation costs and improving connectivity between resource-rich regions and economic corridors, and

• Fifth, it can create employment opportunities through railway construction, maintenance, operations, and associated value chains,” Cllr. Varmah emphasized.

The erudite legal luminary furthered most importantly that, “an effective railway system can strengthen regional integration, facilitate trade, and position Liberia as a competitive destination for investment in West Africa”.

Stakeholders’ Critical Validation

Delving into the ongoing validation of draft Bill, the Law Reform Commission Chairman/CEO outlined how critical stakeholders’ participation is to the process and also greatly depend on the quality of the stakeholders’ engagement in the process, as he seeks their expertise, insights and constructive recommendation to ensure that the final legislation reflects international best practices while addressing Liberia's unique realities and development aspirations.

“As stakeholders representing various sectors and interests, your contributions will help strengthen the legal framework and ensure that the proposed Authority is equipped to fulfill its mandate effectively and responsibly.

The Law Reform Commission remains committed to facilitating a participatory, inclusive, and transparent law reform process. We believe that laws are most effective when they emerge from broad consultation and reflect the collective wisdom of the people they intend to serve.”

Historicity of Liberia’s Railways

Historically, railway infrastructure in Liberia has largely been developed and utilized to support specific mining concessions. While this model contributed to economic activity, it often limited broader national access and constrained opportunities for diversified economic growth.

The validation of the proposed Act marks another significant milestone in Liberia's ongoing efforts to strengthen its legal, regulatory, and institutional framework for sustainable economic development.

Executive Orders

“The Government of Liberia, under the leadership of His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has demonstrated a clear vision for transforming Liberia's transportation and infrastructure sectors. Through the Executive Orders issued by the President concerning the establishment and operationalization of the Liberian National Railway Authority, the Government has recognized the strategic importance of rail infrastructure as a critical driver of national development.

These Executive Orders provided the necessary interim framework for the creation of the Authority and signaled the Government's determination to establish a modern railway governance system. They also underscored the urgency of developing an independent regulatory and oversight institution capable of ensuring fair access, safety, efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the management and utilization of Liberia's railway assets.

However, while Executive Orders serve as important policy instruments, they are by nature temporary measures. The long-term sustainability, legitimacy, and effectiveness of the Authority require a comprehensive legislative foundation enacted by the National Legislature. This Draft Act seeks to provide that permanent legal framework.

Today, therefore, we are not merely reviewing another piece of legislation. We are helping to shape a transformative legal instrument that will influence Liberia's economic future for generations to come.”

Concluding, Cllr, Varmah iterated that the proposed legislation represents a fundamental paradigm shift in the governance of Liberia's railway sector. He then encouraged frank discussions, thoughtful analysis, and constructive engagement. “Together, let us build a legal framework that promotes national development, protects the public interest, and supports Liberia's journey toward sustainable economic transformation.”

On his part, the Liaison Officer – Liberia National Railways Authority, Mr. Ignatius Saymel Neepaye, lauded the Law Reform Commission, other stakeholders and development partners for working together on a process that will bring to fruition the Liberia National Railways Authority.

25/06/2026

Pictorial Highlights: National Validation Workshop for the Draft Liberia National Railway Authority Act of 2026. Theme: "Strengthening Railway Governance, Open Access and Multi-User Rail Infrastructure for National Development". Held at the Ministry of Mines & Energy. Thursday, June 25, 2026. Held under the auspices of the Liaison Office - Liberia National Railway Authority (LNRA) in collaboration with the Law Reform Commission.

13/06/2026

Day-Two: More Pictorial highlights of the ongoing high-level dedicated session with Committees of the Legislature on the Draft laws to establish the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) and the National Anti-Corruption Court (NACC), where LRC Chair/CEO, Cllr, Bornor M. Varmah serves as Lead Facilitator in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.

13/06/2026

Day-Two: Pictorial highlights of high-level dedicated session with Committees of the Legislature on the Draft laws to establish the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) and the National Anti-Corruption Court (NACC), where LRC Chair/CEO, Cllr, Bornor M. Varmah serves as Lead Facilitator in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.

12/06/2026

Pictorial highlights of high-level dedicated session with Committees of the Legislature on the Draft laws to establish the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) and the National Anti-Corruption Court (NACC), where LRC Chair/CEO, Cllr, Bornor M. Varmah serves as Lead Facilitator in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.