ITAI Backs Rep. Jonathan Fonati Koffa For Speakership; Calls On Newly Elected Reps To Endorse His Candidacy
The Institute for Transparency and Accountability International (ITAI) has given open support to the Deputy Speaker of the 54th House of Representative, Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa, for the ensuing Speakership election in January 2024 for the 55th National Legislature.
In a press release issued Wednesday, November 29, 2023, ITAI said their support is predicated on the fact that Koffa is best suited for the position among the candidates who have shown interest for the vacancy. According to the group, Cllr. Koffa has served as Deputy Speaker and, in some cases, Acting Speaker, making him knowledgeable of the functions of such capacity and putting him ahead of all his contenders.
The transparency group named newly elected Nimba Representative, Musa Hassan Bility, Montserrado County’s district #11 Representative, Richard Koon, and Lofa County Representative, Thomas Fallah, among those contesting against Cllr. Koffa for the Speakership, but placed Koffa ahead of them for the level of honesty, integrity and experience he brings to the table.
The group stated that Cllr. Koffa has over 25 years of working experience in both public and private sectors, with enviable track record, good human relations and international connections. “Since his election as Grand Kru County’s district #2 Representative in 2017, he has maintained cordial relationship with majority members of the 54th Legislature, wheeling huge influence over some of his colleagues as well as legislative staffers, several of whom have expressed support for his Speakership bid,” the ITAI release stated.
Meanwhile, the Institute for Transparency and Accountability International (ITAI) has called on all elected members of the 55th House of Representatives, especially the newly elected ones who are yet to know Cllr. Koffa in person, to support the candidacy of the leaned counselor, in order to give him the opportunity to showcase his leadership ability at the first branch of government, and to give the Capitol a face of international acclamation.
The ITAI release underscored that their support and plea with members of the House are void of political sentiment, and used the opportunity to call on members of the Unity Party (UP) Alliance and their supporting groups, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and their supporting groups and independent members of the House to go beyond party politics and put the interest of the National Legislature first.
The release observed that the integrity of the first branch of government is of paramount interest to the state and its growing democracy; as such, electing Cllr. Koffa as Speaker is an added advantage to such an endeavor.
In a related development, ITAI has called on Cllr. Koffa, upon his ascendency as Speaker of the 55th National Legislature, to work closely and collectively with the Liberian Senate and the Executive branch in moving the country forward. They warned Koffa not to use the position to subject national interest to party scrutiny, as doing so will only stall the development that the citizenry yearn for.