MONROVIA: ‘River Cess for Boakai’, an auxiliary of the governing Unity Party has sent a message of congratulations to Montserrado County District ‘11’ representative, Richard Nagbe Koon, following his election victory in the recently held speakership election up Capitol Hill.
On November 21, 2024, Representative Koon was elected speaker unopposed by a breakaway faction of members of the House of Representatives, who had signed a resolution to remove Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa of the former governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). Koon was elected minutes after Koffa was removed following the signing of a resolution by fifty members of the house, citing different reasons, including corruption.
‘River Cess for Boakai’ said they could not congratulate Representative Koon earlier based on the fact that his election was challenged in court by Koffa and his group of minority members.
“We are happy that a senior partisan of our party won the speakership election. We thought it was premature for us to congratulate Hon. Koon because the proceeding that led to his election was in court”, Ms. Monkonjay Princess Somah, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of ‘River Cess for Boakai’ informed the media at her residence in Paynesville recently.
Members of the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, unanimously resolved to uphold the opinion of Justice Minister Oswald Tweh in the ongoing impasse at the House of Representatives.
Giving his opinion on the ruling of the Supreme Court, the justice minister said the sittings of the majority bloc did not contravene any provisions of the Liberian Constitution.
Ms. Somah said the fact that the Liberian government has recognized Representative Koon as speaker of the 55th legislature, it was prudent for ‘River Cess for Boakai’ to congratulate him.
According to her, the speaker is a selfless and people-centered leader who means well for Liberians.
The ‘River Cess for Boakai’ founder and CEO said with the Montserrado County lawmaker serving as speaker, she holds the view that the legislature will witness significant transformation, as envisaged in Koon’s campaign manifestos. Ms. Somah called on Speaker Koon to take steps in reconciling a divided house.
“I have been knowing Koon over the years. With him I know the House of Representatives will be transformed, but I want him to do everything to bring reconciliation amongst members of the House”.
She continued: “We know there were two sides doing the leadership crisis. We hope the new speaker will bring all sides together for the best of the country”.