MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Tensions are rising within the House of Representatives as the Majority Bloc, led by Rep. Samuel G. Kogar of District #5, Nimba County, released a damning statement on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, accusing Speaker J. Fonati Koffa of spreading lies, manipulating the budget, and obstructing an audit. The statement, read by Rep. Nyahn G. Flomo of Nimba County District #2, aimed to expose what they called gross falsehoods in Koffa’s recent appearance on Spoon TV, where he accused lawmakers of budget interference, bribery, and halting transparency measures.
Flomo opened by debunking Koffa’s claim that over US$7 million was shifted without his consent. “The Speaker’s claim is simply false. The Liberian budget process is transparent, and no funds can be moved without the approval of the responsible party,” Flomo said. He criticized Koffa for not reviewing the quarterly budget performance reports submitted to the legislature. “If he wasn’t aware of money being moved, it was due to his own negligence in reviewing these reports.”
Flomo highlighted that Speaker Koffa, during his time as Deputy Speaker, operated with a standalone budget and was fully aware of all financial movements. “The Speaker is well-educated and understands budget procedures. For him to claim ignorance of money passing through his budget line is unbelievable and misleading,” he added.
The Majority Bloc also addressed allegations regarding interference with the General Auditing Commission (GAC) audit of the House’s finances. Flomo revealed that the GAC had begun an audit in April 2024, but on Speaker Koffa’s instruction, the auditors were forced to leave the Capitol Building. “If Speaker Koffa was committed to transparency, why did he halt the audit process? His actions have raised serious concerns about his financial management and integrity,” Flomo argued.
The bloc challenged Koffa to restart the audit process, accusing him of stalling it to avoid scrutiny. “We demand accountability. If Koffa truly supports transparency, he must allow the audit to proceed without further interference,” Flomo urged, before calling for an immediate investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
Responding to Koffa’s claim that lawmakers requested funds for personal use and diplomatic travel, the Majority Bloc denied these allegations, calling them fabrications. “No lawmaker has ever made such a request. In fact, it was Speaker Koffa himself who promised to allocate US$1 million per district for projects, a promise he has failed to keep,” Flomo stated. He called the Speaker’s statements “a shameful attempt to distract from his failure to deliver on campaign commitments.”
Flomo also dismissed Koffa’s claim that Room 1026 at the Boulevard Palace Hotel was used for secret budget discussions where lawmakers allegedly extracted money from ministries and agencies. “This is another baseless lie meant to shift attention away from Koffa’s own financial activities. If budget manipulation occurred, it was done by him, and he must be held accountable,” Flomo asserted.
The Majority Bloc further alleged that Speaker Koffa pocketed over US$7 million during his time as Deputy Speaker, with US$2.6 million allocated to him, yet US$9.7 million remaining unaccounted for. “If anyone engaged in budget manipulation, it was Speaker Koffa. We demand answers, and we call on the LACC to immediately investigate,” Flomo stressed.
The Majority Bloc also refuted Koffa’s accusation that lawmakers requested funds to travel to Guinea for diplomatic purposes, calling the claim “absurd.” Flomo pointed out that Liberia already has a well-established diplomatic relationship with Guinea, and such a request would have been unnecessary. “This baseless accusation only serves to harm Liberia’s international standing and reflects Speaker Koffa’s poor leadership.”
In conclusion, Rep. Flomo called on Speaker Koffa to present verifiable facts to support his allegations, accusing him of tarnishing the reputation of the House with his reckless public statements. “His appearance on Spoon TV was full of lies and fabricated stories aimed at deceiving the public. Speaker Koffa’s behavior is unbecoming of a leader entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding our nation’s legislative body,” Flomo stated.
“We, members of the House of Representatives, are calling for his removal. The time has come for Koffa to answer for his actions, and we will not relent in our mission to restore integrity, credibility, and honor to the House of Representatives,” Flomo concluded.
The Majority Bloc’s statement escalates the political crisis in Liberia’s House of Representatives, placing Speaker Koffa under intense pressure to account for his actions amid growing calls for an investigation and his removal from office.
