Bong County District #2 Representative James M. Kolleh’s role in the ongoing impasse at the House of Representatives through the forceful removal of embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa could be gradually landing him on slippery grounds, with constituents of the district beginning to show disapproval of his actions.
Representative Kolleh, as House Chairman on Rules, Order and Administration, has been at the center of controversies surrounding the ongoing crisis and has taken several questionable actions including the vandalizing of the Office of the Speaker which was occupied by embattled Speaker Koffa.
It can be recalled that during the morning hours of Tuesday, February 11, 2025, a group of persons under the supervision of Representative Kolleh, moved into the capitol building along with security officers and a team of journalists, and subsequently broke into the speaker’s office by using forceful means to burst the doors open.
The individuals were seen taking down wall arts and pictures of the embattled speaker as well as personal belongings including important documents, books, stationary, amongst several other valuables, and took them to another destination in the absence of the Koffa.
Representative Kolleh said the speaker’s office is a statutory space reserved for anyone who becomes the speaker of the House of Representatives and whoever ascends to the speakership position should enjoy the privileges and benefits associated with that office.
He said the office had been seized by the embattled speaker and several efforts were made to have him turn it over but he blatantly refused.
“We need to have this office prepared for use by the speaker (Rebel-style Speaker Richard Koon). As you are aware it’s a statutory office; it enables the speaker to have his staff including press director, COS, deputy COS, resource officer, gender coordinator and the list goes on. So there are a couple of staff that need to be in there. We also need that office to enable him (Koon) to have a comfortable space to interact with guests to be able to discuss the interest of Liberia,” Kolleh said.
He said it was against this backdrop that the Plenary took the decision to enable the committee on rules and order to carry on the exercise. But it appears that the behavior of Kolleh is putting him in trouble with his people who are feeling disservice by his involvement in these “illegal” orchestrations, after they boycotted a recent health outreach under his sponsorship.
Rep. Kolleh had boasted that he would establish mobile medical outreach in the District on February 15, 2025, intended to treat citizens with different medical needs. But to the contrary, the majority of the citizens of the district abandoned the Mobile Health Outreach site at Nathaniel V. Massaquoi High School Campus in Gbarnga, Bong County.
Some citizens who spoke to our correspondent said they’re not happy with the way Kolleh is conducting himself in the Liberian parliament regarding the removal of Koffa as speaker, calling for him to be held accountable for his actions and to be more transparent and responsible in his leadership.
They also urged him to focus on delivering tangible development projects that will benefit the people of District #2. “We refused to participate in the medical outreach and we are demanding the lawmaker to address some pressing issues such as the lack of basic amenities, poor road networks, and inadequate healthcare facilities in our district,” said Sumo Getalah, a resident of the district.
Marie Johnson, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed disappointment with Representative Kolleh’s actions, saying, “He only remembers us when it’s time to run for office. We are tired of being used for political gains.”
This recent incident has highlighted the growing disillusionment among citizens towards their elected representatives, who are often accused of neglecting their duties and only showing up during elections periods.
By: Edwin D. Khakie edwinkhakie0@gmail.com
