Despite the election of a new Speaker here by Majority lawmakers of the House of Representatives, ousted Speaker J. Fonati Koffa says he is still in charge.
By Lincoln G. Peters & By Bridgett Milton
Monrovia, Liberia, November 22, 2024 – Embattled House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa remains defiant here, maintaining that he remains the duly elected speaker and presiding officer of the House.
Majority lawmakers replaced Speaker Koffa on Thursday, November 21, 2024 by ruling UP lawmaker Richard N. Koon on white ballot as new Speaker of the House.
Koon is Montserrado County district#11 Representative, who lost the race for the speakership to Cllr. Koffa during the inception of the 55th Legislature in January.
But a defiant Koffa has filed a six-count petition befiore the Liberian Supreme Court, praying for a writ of mandamus against members of the Majority Bloc, challenging his removal and subsequent replacement on grounds that it was done outside of legal process.
A writ of mandamus is a court order that compels a lower court or government official to perform a legal duty or correct an abuse of discretion. The term comes from a Latin word mandamus, which means “we command.”
Newly elected Speaker Koon, has been sworn in office by the Majority bloc, becoming the second Speaker of the 55th Legislature.
Following his election Thursday in the Joint Chambers of the Capitol, defiant Koffa took to his Facebook page, encouraging himself and his supporters that “Nothing has happened.”
Despite the election of a new Speaker, Cllr. Koffa contends in his writ of mandamus to the Supreme Court that he remains the duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature and Presiding Officer.
According to him, the majority bloc that announced his removal had refuse to attend duly-convened legislative sessions of the plenary of the House of Representatives, while attaching a notarized affidavit issued by the sergeant-at arms of the House, confirming the respondent’s refusal to attend sessions.
He argues that the refusal of the majority bloc to attend sessions have created a constitutional procedure impasse due to lack of the constitutional quorum required by the Liberian Constitution for the House to conduct official business, including enactment into law of the national budget for the ensuring 2025 fiscal year.
The veteran Liberian lawyer and lawmaker continues that the action by the majority bloc raises grave, urgent and pressing constitutional issues that have created a constitutional impasse, which require immediate attention of and resolution by the Bench.
“The majority bloc’s failure to attend these sessions is a violation of the Constitution, the statutory laws of Liberia and the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives. Their actions violate Article 33, which prevents the plenary from performing legislative duties due to the lack of quorum. Also, Article 34 of the constitution was violated which gives the House right to enact laws. Wherefore, and in view of the foregoing, petitioners respectfully request the court to cause the Alternative writ of mandamus to be issued, requiring the majority bloc to attend plenary legislative sessions as mandated by Article 33 of the Constitution of Liberia, Statutory laws and the House Standing Rules”, the Grand Kru County representatives pleads.
According to the Majority bloc, 50 Representatives signed the resolution for the removal of Speaker Koffa. The resolution was read in the Joint Chambers of the 55th Legislature during the Majority session presided over by Acting Chief Clerk, Comic Chea, following a motion by Bong County Representative, James Kolleh.
The Majority bloc took the decision following a specialized committee’s report.
The report notes that Speaker Koffa was invited on several occasions to answer to allegations raised against him by six of his colleagues, which he failed to respond to.
During reading of names that signed the resolution, names of some key Koffa’s supporters were called, as being among those who signed his removal.
They include Representatives Thomas Goshua of Grand Bassa district# 5; Rep. Matthew Joe of Grand Bassa district# 3; Montserrado County district#5 Representative Priscilla Cooper; Montserrado County district#1 Representative Rukie Barry; Sinoe County Representatives Alex Sonnyboy Noah, and Grand Cape Mount County Representative Bintu Massally.
At the same time, the Majority bloc has given the ousted Speaker a week to turn over all government property in his possession, including his office.
In-coming Speaker Richard N. Koon expresses profound gratitude to members of the Majority bloc for the trust they have placed in him.
He notes that the moment is not just about him, but represents a collective dream, a hopeful vision for a brighter future that will see the House of Representatives particularly, and the Liberian Legislature arising anew.
“Together, we have taken a monumental step toward the change we seek in legislative governance and democratic pluralism within legislative politics rooted in our shared values, aspirations, and commitment to doing the work of the Republic of Liberia in a people-centered manner”, Koon says.
He adds that the current governance systems and institutions are faced with a multiplicity of quagmires, citing inequities, dire commitments to political cleavages and sectarian politics that divide them, coupled with inefficiencies and inadequacies that discourage them, and the critical logjams that dampen their collective potentials for growth and progress.
“However, I want to encourage you to remain steadfast and hopeful. As an integral part of the whole, I witnessed and participated in the struggles that landed us here today. Now that I am the Speaker of the Honorable House of Representatives of the 55th National Legislature, barely eleven months into the tenure of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, I am committed to working with you – all of you to achieve your shared hopes and dreams. I am sternly dedicated to facing these challenges head-on with honesty, integrity, and relentless determination with the wholeness of my being.”
Koon assures his colleagues that together, they will undertake hard but necessary work of reforming their systems, with transparency and accountability at the core of their interventions. Editing by Jonathan Browne
