ADNews-Monrovia: The majority bloc of lawmakers in the House of Representatives who is seeking the removal of Liberia’s 55th Legislative Speaker, J. Fonati Koffa has strongly refuted recent assertions made by Speaker Koffa regarding alleged budget manipulation, audit interference, bribery, and unfounded claims and lawmakers’ diplomatic travel.
The majority bloc, comprised of 43 members and led by Nimba County District #5 Representative, Samuel G. Kogar, described Speaker Koffa’s statements as misleading and lacking factual basis.
Addressing the media late Wednesday evening in Monrovia, October 23, 2024, the group disclosed that Contrary to Speaker Koffa’s claiming that more than $7 million was moved through his budget without his consent, the Liberian budget process is transparent and adheres to established procedures in the way that no request for disbursement can be made to the Ministry of Finance without the express approval of the owner of the budget line in question.
The majority bloc noted that quarterly budget performance reports are routinely submitted to the legislature, including detailed reports on its own budget performance.
They accused Koffa of operating on a stand-alone budget, which he was fully aware of and approved all movements of money within his budget during his term as Deputy Speaker in the 54th legislature.
According to them, It is impossible for such funds to be withdrawn without consent saying his claims of budget manipulation are simply unfounded, as all financial allocations undergo a rigorous approval process, of which he is fully aware.
Providing clarity on halting the General Auditing Commission Audit to escape accountability, the majority bloc said “Speaker Koffa’s statements about the General Auditing Commission (GAC) audit are false and an attempt to deflect blame. The GAC was formally invited to conduct an audit of the House’s finances on March 17, 2024, through a signed engagement letter. The GAC team began the audit process in April; however, under Speaker Koffa’s instruction, the auditors were shockingly asked to leave the Capitol Building, stalling the entire process.
If Speaker Koffa truly had no role in halting the audit, then why has he not taken any steps to restart the process since his return in April 2024? His actions have cast a cloud of suspicion over the financial management of the House. We challenge the Speaker to take responsibility for stalling the audit which was in the interest of transparency and accountability”.
The majority bloc seeking Koffa removal continues as “Lawmakers Asking for Personal Budget Allocations: A Baseless and Unfounded Claim
The claim that lawmakers approached Speaker Koffa to place money in the national budget for their personal use is a complete fabrication. No lawmaker has made such a request. In fact, it was Speaker Koffa himself who campaigned on the promise of allocating $1 million per district for lawmakers to implement projects, a promise he has failed to deliver on. It is deeply concerning that the Speaker is resorting to deception to distract the public from his inability to fulfill his campaign commitment.
“Boulevard Hotel Allegations: A Shameless Attempt to Distract
Speaker Koffa’s assertion that Boulevard Hotel Room 1026 was used for budget hearings and that lawmakers used this as an opportunity to extort money from ministries and agencies is nothing short of another falsehood. These statements are an act of desperation, intended to divert public attention away from the Speaker’s own questionable financial activities. If any act of budget manipulation was ever done, why did the Speaker launch an investigate, obtain the facts, and take appropriate action?
“It is on national record that during two fiscal years, Speaker Koffa, then Deputy Speaker, was allocated $2.6 million but he pocketed $9.7 million—an excess of over $7 million that has yet to be accounted for. If any budget manipulation occurred, it was done by Hon Koffa, and he must be held accountable. We stand by our call for the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to immediately launch a thorough investigation into Speaker Koffa’s financial dealings, which violate the Budget Transfer Act of 2008.
“Travel to Guinea: Diplomatic Ties Already Exist Between Guinea and Liberia: Speaker Koffa’s claim that lawmakers requested to travel to Guinea to establish diplomatic relations that already exist and to solicit money from the Guinean government is another false accusation. Liberia maintains a healthy and longstanding diplomatic relationship with Guinea, as evidenced by the operation of the Guinean embassy in Liberia and the recent presentation of credentials by the Guinean ambassador to President Boakai. This absurd accusation only serves to damage Liberia’s international standing and is indicative of the Speaker’s irresponsible leadership.
“Conclusion: Calling for Speaker Koffa to Present Facts:We the members of the House of Representatives urge Hon. J. Fonati Koffa to bring forth verifiable facts and evidence to support his claims, rather than engaging in reckless rhetoric on public platforms. His appearance on Spoon TV was riddled with falsehoods that tarnish the reputation of the House of Representatives and the government of Liberia. His use of invectives on public radio further demonstrates an acute lack of leadership and decorum, undermining the dignity of the office he holds. Such behavior is unbecoming of a leader entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the nation’s legislative body, and it reflects a troubling disregard for the standards of professionalism and accountability that Liberians expect from their elected officials.
We, members of the House of Representatives calling for his removal, remain steadfast in our quest to restore sanity, credibility, and honor to the House of Representatives by the procedures we have stablished to remove him. The time has come for Hon Koffa to answer for his actions, and we will not back down from this mission to uphold the integrity of the Honorable House of Representatives.”
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