Liberia: CSO Council Urges Speaker Koffa to Step Down

As the political tension intensifies on Capitol Hill, the National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL) has called on embattled Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa to do the needful to step down.

The Council’s call, which is contained in a statement issued Wednesday, November 20, 2024, pointed out that recent development at the House of Representatives clearly depicts that majority members of that august body have lost confidence in the Speaker and as such, he must step down.

NCSCL said the Speaker must resign to save his face and to enhance peace and security as he alone cannot keep the entire country hostage having lost the confidence reposed in him by the people who voted him to the position.

NCSCL clarified that its position does not in any way suggest support to a particular side of the conflict, but the call is in good faith of sustaining peace and a flourishing democracy.

The Council also pointed out that the resignation of the Speaker does not equally prove any weakness on his part, but is in the interest of peace and security, and the love for country.

“In regards to recent developments at the Capitol Building – seat of the Legislature, the National Civil Society Council of Liberia thinks it is now time for the Speaker to step down. We are calling on him to do the needful to resign. The Speaker alone cannot keep holding the country hostage when majority members of the people are saying they can no longer sit under his gable anymore. It means that he has lost the confidence reposed in him by the people. And so we are calling on him to resign,” read the Council’s statement signed by Chairperson Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai.

“The Council hastens to clarify that this stance does not in any way give support to a particular side of the conflict; our call is in good faith of sustaining peace and a flourishing democracy.” 

For more than a month now, there has been an impasse at the House of Representatives with the House divided on the basis of “Majority Bloc” and “Minority Bloc.” The Majority Bloc” has been seeking the removal of Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa on several counts of “leadership shortfalls.”