By: Varney Dukuly
MONROVIA: After nearly a year of campaigning through thick and thin, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa was declared Speaker of the House of Representatives after he defeated Montserrado County Representative, Richard Nagbe Koon.
Rep. Koffa’s overwhelming victory demonstrated his enduring command of the Legislature which is the First Branch of Liberia’s three Branches of government including the Legislature, Executive and the Judiciary.
Representative Thomas Fallah of Lofa County narrowly pulled ahead of Musa Bility, the new lawmaker of Nimba as the new Deputy Speaker.
“I pledge to you Mr. President-elect to use my gavel of authority in this House to continue to work with you and to promote the agenda,” said Koffa, the new speaker of the 55th Legislature.
“After all we are one government; your failure is the failure of the Legislature and our failure will be ours,” he pointed out.
The Monday dissolution of the 54th and subsequent induction of the 55th Legislature is in keeping with Article of 32a of the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia which calls for that body to assemble in regular session once a year on the second working Monday in January.
The process, as detailed in the House’s rules under section 11, titled: “TAKING OF OATH,” outlines the mandatory oath or affirmation that must be taken by every representative before assuming his/her seat.
Once the oath has been administered to the incoming members, the Chief Clerk will officially announce the House’s temporary lack of leadership.
In light of this announcement, an election on Monday for the position of Speaker was conducted, allowing the members to democratically determine its Speaker in J. Cllr. Fonati Koffa.
In a tight race, the former deputy Speaker defeated his colleague Representative Richard Koon with a five vote’s margin accumulating 36 whilst his rival got 31 of the total votes cast.
Speaking minutes after his victory, the new speaker vowed to work in the interest of the country and its people.
He said his administration will not stand up against the agenda of the President-elect, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, but rather support him for the good of the country.
The new House speaker stressed that the President-elect highlighted two broad visions to him most recently which he is committed to work assiduously in the 55th Legislature.
“I’m sure the week after his inauguration, he will present more,” Speaker Koffa added.
Koffa: “But I was fortunate for the president-elect to point out to me that corruption as public enemy number one will no longer be a slogan but it will be an actuality.”
“I told him we will work with him on that; he also expressed the infrastructure needs of this country, especially roads to my own region, the Southeast, must be accelerated. And to that, I find it so gratifying,” said the new House speaker.
The focus now turns to the call for War and Economic crimes court, a key topic for which polls showed more support by Liberians.
After so many years of apparent disagreement between justice advocates and some Liberian politicians, many of whom are former warlords and leaders of ex-armed warring factions, demonstration of the requisite ‘political will’ is yet to be seen.
In 2024, the Speaker ‘rides on bullet train’ requesting that unfinished business of the 54th Legislature be carried out so that a resolution can be reached.
“Notably, the issue of war and economic crimes,” said Koffa. “We must take up the mantle, listen to our people and finally come to one resolution on that question.”
He added: “We will be meeting with you Mr. President, and we will be asking for your indulgence as we work with you to carve a meaningful agenda for this country.”
“Again, I’m humble, again I’m overwhelmed; and to the extent today I said anything to make anyone feel uncomfortable and create fear, that was not my true intention; I spoke from my head and not from my heart,” he said.