—-NAYMOTE Questions House Over New Inquiry Into Its Founding Sources
IPNEWS: NAYMOTE-Liberia Executive Director Eddie Jarwolo has raised serious concerns over the House of Representatives’ sudden decision to investigate the organization’s funding sources, questioning the legal authority and underlying motives behind the legislative inquiry.
The tension escalated following the House of Representatives’ formal invitation to Naymote Partners for Democratic Development to clarify its methodologies, alongside internal legislative discussions probing the watchdog’s financial documentation.
NAYMOTE has openly questioned whether the House of Representatives possesses the constitutional or legal authority to scrutinize and audit independent civil society organizations (CSOs).
Executive Director Eddie Jarwolo clarified that the watchdog is already subject to strict transparency protocols and undergoes rigorous annual reviews by recognized external audit institutions.
The organization noted that these developments are “strange” and highly unusual, leading to public debate over whether lawmakers are attempting to shrink civic space and suppress independent dissent.
The inquiry comes directly after NAYMOTE published its Legislative Constituency Assessment Report and its ongoing Legislative Digest, which graded lawmakers poorly, highlighting zero public voting records, lack of budget transparency, and poor representation.
In response to the legislative pressure, NAYMOTE stated that if lawmakers want to pursue financial scrutinization, they should welcome a simultaneous, independent audit of both NAYMOTE and the House of Representatives.
The ongoing standoff has sparked broader concerns among Liberian civil society groups regarding political intimidation and the independence of democratic watchdogs.
For several years now, NAYMOTE Partners for Democratic Development continue to act as the premier independent watchdog, capacity builder, and civic intermediary for the Liberian Legislature, working primarily to promote institutional openness, accountability, and citizen-led advocacy.
As an external civil society organization rather than a government entity, NAYMOTE balances critical oversight of lawmakers with collaborative programs designed to strengthen legislative functions.
NAYMOTE regularly tracks, analyzes, and publishes comprehensive performance assessments of both the House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate. Publications like the annual Legislative Digest scrutinize how effectively lawmakers fulfill their constitutional mandates of lawmaking, oversight, and representation.
The organization explicitly exposes weaknesses in the Legislature, such as flagging the overuse of “secret or executive sessions,” the absence of public voting records, and the lack of a functional, transparent official legislative website.
NAYMOTE publishes specialized monitoring reports to track whether lawmakers are actually engaging their constituents during legislative breaks or merely practicing “ceremonial politics”.
Working alongside the Legislative Information Service (LIS), NAYMOTE conducts extensive desk reviews and key informant interviews to archive legislative history and procedures.
NAYMOTE also conducts joint training programs, hosts targeted seminars, and donates critical work tools (like laptops) to legislative staffers to improve overall institutional efficiency.
Through joint initiatives, NAYMOTE pushes to improve Liberia’s standing on the regional Open Parliament Index by advocating for structural, internal legislative reforms.
Through its Youth Legislative Policy Dialogues, NAYMOTE has brought together thousands of youth leaders and dozens of lawmakers across multiple counties to discuss direct national policy and constituency needs.
To bridge the gap between citizens and elected officials, NAYMOTE creates resources like the Legislative Advocacy Handbook and the Legislative Engagement Guide. These tools guide ordinary citizens on how to interact with the Capitol Building effectively.
The organization recruits, trains, and deploys youth interns directly into both houses of the Legislature to observe live sessions, monitor committee work, and gather evidence-based data for national transparency.
NAYMOTE actively compiles and presents citizen-backed policy recommendations to the Legislature, advocating for necessary updates to the New Elections Law and pushing for affirmative action to increase women’s representation in parliament.
Recently, members of the Liberian House of Representatives passed a Vote of No Confidence against Ambassador-at-Large Sheikh Al-Moustapha Kouyateh following a highly publicized standoff over diplomatic protocols and corruption allegations.
In May 2026, Ambassador Kouyateh made explosive public statements on social media accusing members of the National Legislature of accepting bribes and inducements from European investors to approve major concession agreements. He went so far as to label the Legislature the “most corrupt branch” of government.
The House of Representatives aggressively pushed back against the diplomat’s remarks, asserting that his actions violated his core functions.
The House Leadership summoned Ambassador Kouyateh alongside the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Samuel A. Stevquoah, to defend or retract the allegations.
Lawmakers stated that by launching a “broadside” against a co-equal branch of government, Kouyateh blurred the line between official state diplomacy and partisan activism. They argued that his statements damaged Liberia’s international standing and discouraged foreign investment.
Though Kouyateh initially issued a verbal apology before the House, he reportedly refused to comply with subsequent legislative demands for widespread, written retractions across multiple media outlets. He informed President Joseph Boakai that he would not retract his position further, leading the House to issue the symbolic Vote of No Confidence.
While Kouyateh’s official diplomatic label sparked an internal political rift, it mirrors a broader, long-standing domestic debate. Historically, the National Legislature, the Liberia National Police, and the Judiciary have frequently ranked among the public bodies perceived as the most corrupt by everyday citizens in independent Afrobarometer date and global indexes.
Several internal lawmakers, such as Representative Musa Bility and former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, have also publicly criticized legislative dishonesty and budget tampering, keeping the institution under heavy public scrutiny
