The Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL) says it will be dangerous if the 55th Legislature elects Fonati Koffa contest the Speakership.
CSNL described Cllr. Koffa as one who lacks the moral standing to preside over the House of Representatives, and that he is a convicted felon whom the people of Grand Kru County elected inadvertently.
“While we recognize the sanctity of the House of Representatives to elect their own leadership in terms of who presides as Speaker, the Civil Society Network of Liberia says unequivocally that said decision must be taken with maximum due care, so that our country’s democracy will not be hijacked by desperate political actors,” the group stated.
The Network is therefore calling on members of the 55th Legislature, specifically the House of Representatives, to take judicial notice of the facts and circumstances above and deny Koffa the opportunity of presiding over them as Speaker.
CSNL said Cllr J. Koffa is embroiled with malfeasances, to the extent that he is a center of conflict of interest. Cllr. Koffa is offering legal counsels to the NPA, Maritime, Central Bank of Liberia, etc, adding, “What standing does Cllr. Koffa have when these State-owned enterprises appear before the House of Representatives when they run contrary to governance norms?”
The Network is cautioning Koffa to save face by recontesting the Deputy Speaker Position, which he currently occupies, and stay clear of the Speaker position, which he stands to lose. CSNL warned that failure to heed, Cllr. Koffa will dramatically lose both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions, adding, “A hint to the wise is quite sufficient.”
