Embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa faces forced removal from office here.
By Bridgett Milton
Monrovia, Liberia, January 31, 2025 – The House of Representatives votes here to forcibly remove embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa in its next sitting on Tuesday, 4th February.
The House’s decision is prompted by a report from its Committee on Rules, Order, and Administration, formally communicating to Plenary about ongoing efforts to facilitate the transition of the Speaker’s office.
According to the committee, they have written embattled Speaker Koffa, requesting him to vacate the office and turn it over to majority bloc leader Rep. Richard Koon, but he (Koffa) has reportedly refused to comply.
“House’s Statutory Committee on Rules, Order and Administration (ROA), surrounding the impasse obtained by the deliberate refusal of Rep. Jonathan Fonati Koffa, Representative, District # 2, Grand Kru County, to vacate the offices of the Speaker and turn over the keys for appropriate preparations leading to the utilization of Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon and staff”, he writes.
The committee explains that since the controversial removal of Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa, he has deliberately usurped the offices of the Speaker, refusing to vacate the premises and concomitantly walking away with the keys thereto.
It notes that this ugly situation seriously embarrasses Richard Nagbe Koon and the staff, impeding the execution of their official duties.
“To date, Speaker Koon and staff have yet to have access to their offices, thus undermining the effective execution of their responsibilities.”
In response to the alleged refusal, the committee sought the intervention of the Minister of Justice, who advised that they should issue a formal communication to Speaker Koffa, granting him a five-day ultimatum to vacate the office and should he fail to comply within the given timeframe, the committee should take further action, including placing Koffa’s personal belongings outside in the presence of the media and civil society organizations.
Following reading the committee’s communication during Tuesday’s session, a motion was made to defer further discussions until next Tuesday.
Current efforts to throw out the belongings of embattled Speaker Koffa from the Office of the Speaker is the last fight to erase his stamp as Speaker of the 55th Legislature amid controversy that the entire process is illegal. Editing by Jonathan Browne
