By Bill W. Cooper
Grand Kru County District 1 Representative, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa has declared that auditing the House of Representatives is not just necessary but compulsory before the end of Joseph Boakai’s government.
He said, “An audit of the House of Representatives is not just a recommendation; it is a necessity.
We must ensure that every dollar spent is accounted for and that our constituents can trust us to manage their resources wisely.”
Koffa, who once served as Speaker for the country’s first branch of government, said his stance followed growing concerns about transparency, accountability, and the effective use of public funds within the country’s legislative body.
The Grand Kru Representative, who served from January to December 2024, has made himself a political figure following his Victory against his colleagues illegally removing him as Speaker of the country.
Liberia in September of 2024, came to a standstill when 49 Representatives signed a resolution to remove their former Speaker over what they described as his inability to effectively lead the country’s first branch of government, including corruption and conflict of interest.
Known for his commitment to reform and governance, Koffa resisted his colleagues’ efforts, thus describing their decisions as unconstitutional and in total violation of the House’s rules and the Liberian Constitution.
After Months of rigmarole, which subsequently ended at the Supreme Court of Liberia affirming Koffa’s Speakership, the Grand Kru lawmaker then announced his resignation, paving the way for a fresh election, which saw Montserrado County District 11 Representative, Richard Koon, emerge as the winner.
But appearing on OK following Tuesday, May 13, 2025, session, Koffa addressed the importance of financial oversight in government institutions and frustration over the perceived refusal of some colleagues to allow the auditing process and lack of transparency in government dealings.
“Julius, we have spent too much money at the Legislature, especially the House of Representatives, for said funds not to be accounted for.
So, the audit process is not going to go away because it is compulsory.
I’m not promising that it will happen within the next six months or one year, but all I can say is that it will happen.
The audit will happen, and we will know what exactly has been going on at the House over the years,” he explained.
Koffa, at the same time, assured that as Representative, the auditing will be one of his priorities during the 55th legislature, which provided lawmakers the opportunity to vindicate themselves, and warned, “Auditing the House will be our fight at the Legislature moving forward.”
Comprising 73 members, the House of Representatives has faced criticism over the years for its lack of transparency and accountability despite being accused of corruption and mismanagement.
But since assuming the role as Speaker, Koffa has attempted to implement financial audits within the House of Representatives, but said push has been met with resistance, often due to political pushback and concerns over the implications of exposing potential wrongdoing.
However, Koffa believes that the time has come for a cultural shift within the House, one that prioritises accountability over political expediency, and added that he remains steadfast in his belief that accountability is essential for restoring public trust in the legislature.
