As the leadership crisis at the House of Representatives deepens, the Speaker J. Fonati Koffa has broken silence on recent clashes between fellow lawmakers over an attempt to impeach him from the speakership position.
It can be recalled that heated tension engulfed the House of Representatives on last Thursday, October 17, 2024, with lawmakers at each other’s throats over the removal of Speaker Koffa.
It is yet unclear why some group of representatives wants the speaker removed, but sources told this paper that prominent current and former members of the House, including Deputy Speaker Thomas P. Fallah, Senator Prince Moye and Vice President Jeremiah Koung are against an audit initiated by the Speaker, all of whom served as either Chairman or Co-Chairman of the House’s Ways and Finance Committee and feared that the audit could damage their 2029 election prospects.
Several lawmakers were seen throwing invectives at each other; their securities and supporters too were engaged in fist fights in defense of their respective bosses in the Joint Chambers of the House of Representatives.
Group of lawmakers headed by Representative Frank Saah Foko and Marvin Cole prevented the holding of session presided over by Deputy House Speaker Thomas Fallah, alleging that Fallah had planned to clandestinely remove Koffa from his position.
Representative Foko and Cole said they have evidence in their possession that Deputy Speaker Fallah is dishing US$25,000 to lawmakers for the removal of Speaker Koffa. Both Speaker Koffa and Deputy Speaker Fallah are ranking members of the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) headed by former Liberian President, George M. Weah. Mr. Weah has since issued a statement over the situation pointing fingers at the Unity Party government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
But, addressing a press conference on Monday, October 21, 2024, after his return to the country from Italy along with President Boakai, Speaker Koffa said he will hold a meeting with lawmakers calling for his removal to begin a dialogue over the matter.
Koffa’s call for dialogue aligns with recommendations made by U.S. Ambassador to Liberia Mark Toner who stressed the importance of dialogue among lawmakers, calling on the Speaker to engage all parties involved as a crucial step towards finding an amicable solution to this situation.
Speaker Koffa said they are all one family at the House of Representative but sometimes disagree and take notice of their actions, but at the end of the day the Liberians people are their highest responsibility.
He said because of Liberians, they are compelled to find a way to negotiate and apologize to their constituents who feel offended by the incident last week, or feel embarrassed by the lawmakers’ action.
Speaker Koffa urged citizens to remain calm over the next few hours as they restore the legislature to its functioning state and put the lawmakers back on track.
Koffa said he has recognized the grievances of those calling for his removal, saying they will be working on responses to while aggrieved lawmakers complaints with both grievances and responses put on record.
On Sunday, October 20, 2024, the bloc seeking to remove the Speaker said their decision remains unbending and is backed by what they described as Koffa’s failure to discharge his official duties in a manner that is fair, proper and impartial.
The aggrieved lawmakers, during a press conference, displayed an attendance of 38 legislators, claiming they are currently 42 in number. However, they called for an investigation into reports of alleged bribery in the process.
By Tonita N. Copson
