By Lewis S Teh
The ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) says it strongly opposes the New Public Health Bill on Sexual and Reproduction Health currently before the Legislature that talks about abortion.
CDC Secretary General, Jefferson Tamba Koijee in a press conference at the Coalition’s headquarters in oldest Congo Town at the weekend said the Coalition has already communicated with the Liberian Senate, making it clear that it will not support any Act of abortion in Liberia.
“Let the senate be reminded that the CDC is not interested in anything that has to do with abortion; we stand against that bill”, Koijee, who is also mayor of Monrovia, said.
He argued that Liberians are religious people, who believe in reproduction, so the population of Liberia should not be reduced by any means or a bill.
He noted that the CDC government respects international partners and NGOs, but does not want Liberia to lose human beings just because of a Bill on Abortion.
“We want to compete with Nigeria in terms of population and CDC under President George Manneh Weah is trying to make sure that Liberians multiply more children to increase our population.”
According to the ruling Coalition chief scribe, passage of the abortion bill will eliminate about 40, 000 babies every year, something, his party is against.
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Koijee promised that the CDC will ensure that the bill does not pass at the Senate; adding that the party has begun consultations with senators, including CDC lawmakers not to sign any bill on abortion in Liberia.
He described the abortion bill as evil and only intended to reduce Liberian population, instead of increasing it like other African countries.
Senate Pro-tempore Albert Chie recently clarified that there is no stand-alone bill on abortion before the Senate contrary to public perceptions.
Senator Chie pointed out that there is only a new chapter in the new Public Health Bill on sexual and reproductive health that addresses issues of sex education, family planning and abortion. Editing by Jonathan Browne
