Liberia will host Speakers and Presidents of national legislatures from across Africa at the 4th General Assembly of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL), scheduled for 9 to 11 December 2026 in Monrovia.
CoSPAL disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.
The assembly, which will focus on strengthening Africa’s economic integration, will be held under the theme ‘Enhancing Intra-African Trade and Investment Through Legislative Leadership and Parliamentary Cooperation.’
The confirmation followed a high-level assessment visit to Monrovia by a delegation from the CoSPAL Secretariat, led by its Secretary-General, Amb. ‘Dapo Oyewole, from 16 to 20 September.
During the visit, the delegation inspected the hotel and other facilities, reviewed logistical arrangements, and held discussions with the Local Organising Committee, led by its Chairperson, Hon. Nehker E. Gaye, as well as relevant Liberian authorities and stakeholders.
The visit culminated in a meeting with the Speaker of the Liberian House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon, on Saturday, where the CoSPAL delegation presented its assessment and the parties formally signed the 4th CoSPAL General Assembly Country Host Agreement.
Speaking on the assessment visit, Koon said Liberia was honoured to host the continental gathering.
‘We are delighted to welcome the assessment team from the CoSPAL Secretariat, led by the Secretary-General, Amb. ‘Dapo Oyewole, to Liberia,’ he said.
According to him, the visit gave both sides an opportunity to assess facilities, review processes, and ensure the necessary institutional arrangements were in place for the successful hosting of the assembly.
‘Liberia is honoured to host an Assembly focused on strengthening the legislative foundations for intra-African trade and investment, and we look forward to welcoming Speakers and Presidents of African legislatures to Monrovia,’ Koon said.
The three-day assembly is expected to examine how African parliaments can use legislation and parliamentary cooperation to remove barriers to intra-African trade and investment.
Discussions will focus on developing and harmonising laws and regulatory frameworks to facilitate greater movement, expand trade and investment opportunities, and make cross-border trade faster and more profitable.
Oyewole said legislative harmonisation was critical to translating Africa’s economic integration commitments into practical outcomes.
‘Africa’s economic integration requires legislative systems that enable those commitments to work in practice,’ he said.
According to him, harmonising laws and establishing enabling legislative and regulatory frameworks across the continent would help Africans ‘move, trade and invest more easily across the continent.’
Oyewole said the General Assembly would offer Africa’s legislative leaders an opportunity to work collectively on these priorities and translate them into concrete action.
He also commended Koon, the Liberian government and the Local Organising Committee for their preparations for the event.
The Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee and of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nehker E. Gaye, said the committee had worked with the CoSPAL Secretariat to ensure the necessary systems and structures were in place.
She thanked Koon, the CoSPAL Secretariat, members of the organising committee and government agencies involved in the preparations for the assembly.
The organisers said the December gathering would also provide a platform for parliamentary leaders to examine the legislative and institutional measures needed to translate continental economic integration commitments into tangible benefits for businesses, citizens and African economies.
CoSPAL was established in 2022 as a pan-African institution that brings together Speakers and Presidents of national legislatures to strengthen legislative leadership, advance parliamentary diplomacy and promote collective legislative action on issues of continental interest.
It was established under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, then Speaker of Nigeria’s 9th House of Representatives, alongside other African legislative leaders.