“Boakai Behind Koffa’s Removal” -Liberian Journalist Claims

A US- based Liberian Journalist, Moses D. Sandy, has claimed that President Joseph Boakai and some political appointees of his administration are the orchestrators, financiers, and executors of the plot to dethrone Speaker J. Fonati Koffa of the House of Representatives. In January 2024, Cllr. Koffa was elected speaker of the 55 National Legislature of Liberia for a six-year term. In keeping with Article 49 of the 1986 Liberian constitution, the speaker of the House of Representatives is elected every six year and can be removed from office by a two-thirds majority of the House of Representatives for a cause. When accused of a crime, the law also stipulates that the speaker shall be given due process prior to being removed. On October 17, 2024, 43 renegade lawmakers of the House’s 73 membership signed a resolution seeking the unconstitutional dethronement of Speaker Koffa. The disgruntled lawmakers accused the Speaker of conflict of interest, autocracy, and other forms of malfeasance in government. They also refused to sit in the same chamber with him and heed his directives. Moreover, the representative demanded his immediate resignation. However, Cllr. Koffa has trashed the accusations and rebuffed the call for his resignation. He said he is willing to relinquish the speakership if given due process by his colleagues, but the renegade lawmakers have failed to meet the Speaker’s demand. Although the lawmakers, simply referred to as “majority bloc”, failed to meet the two-thirds constitutional requirement for unseating the speaker, they on November 21,2024, went ahead and illegally elected a new speaker. Their action exacerbated the leadership conflict and created an impasse in the House of Representatives. In a press release issued on December 13, 2024, Journalist Sandy said the signatories of the October 17th resolution are mere stooges but President Boakai and his political appointees are the main perpetrators of the plot. He said since the commencement of the unconstitutional drive for Speaker Koffa’s removal, the President and his supporters have taken a bias position in the conflict, and disregarded the rule of law and separation of powers in government by continuously conducting official business with the disgruntled lawmakers. He cited the recent submission of the 2024/2025 national budget to the so-called majority bloc by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for deliberation and the appearances of political appointees including the Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), Mohamed Ali, and the Ministers of Transport and Internal Affairs for oversight hearings as some graphic examples of the compromised actions of President Boakai and the executive branch of government in the conflict. Mr. Sandy said, “These actions on the part of the President and his surrogates have undermined the speaker’s authority to lead and manage the affairs of the House of Representatives. He said the actions of President Boakai and his cronies are also eroding the Liberian democracy and the rule of law. He maintained, “It is sad that the President and his supporters have selfishly chosen to thread a path that has the propensity of jeopardizing Liberia’s peace and stability. Mr. Sandy is former National President of the Association Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA). He described as unfortunate the blatant refusal of the President and his administration to heed the December 6th Supreme Court ruling which states, “Actions taken by members of the House that do not conform to Articles 33 and 49 of the Liberian constitution are deemed ultra vires”. The Court also mandated the lawmakers to act in accordance with the constitutional framework. The Supreme Court ruling was preceded by a legal intervention into the House’s leadership crisis. The ALJA former National President said the rule of law is the foundation of any society. He said no society the world over thrives where the rule of law is compromised by its public officials and citizens with impunity. He maintained, “In the 1980’s and 90’s, our people died in droves and lost properties worth millions of US dollars as a result of bad governance, especially the miscarriage of justice. President Boakai, this is not what our people campaigned and voted for”. He said Mr. Boakai, the man who was once admired and adored by Liberians for championing the cause of social justice, is fast becoming a tyrant. Mr. Sandy noted, “Today, it is Speaker Koffa, but tomorrow, it could be anyone including people who now consider themselves as key members of the President’s inner circle”. He said it is unwise for the President and his surrogates to continue wasting the Liberian tax- payers’ resources, work time, and thousands of US dollars for the sole purpose of unseating Speaker Koffa while the nation’s educational system, healthcare sector, roads, and social services remain poorly funded and unattended to. He asked, “Mr. President, what does Liberia stand to reap from this ill-advised decision?” Journalist Sandy said in the 2023 presidential election, majority Liberians voted for President Boakai not because he is the most handsome, liked, and educated Liberian, but then they believed he had the leadership capability to rescue the nation from a failed administration that was led by former President George Weah. However, in less than a year, the President has proven that he is not up to the task of the presidency thus proving his many critics right that he was the wrong pick for the job.  Source: smartnewsliberia.com