MONROVIA – The Movement with Integrity for National Development (MIND) backed the speakership bid of the Deputy Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.
By Macaulay Sombai – [email protected]
In a statement issued on Tuesday, MIND said its support of Rep. Koffa’s Speakership bid for the 55th Legislature is occasioned by the overwhelming reality of experience, discipline, integrity, people centeredness and demonstrated excellence in public service that Koffa brings to the fore.
“Our painstaking analysis of his years of services as a Representative, representing the people of District #2, Grand Kru County before ascending to the Deputy Speaker position, his service is also extended to the private sector as a dependable and respected lawyer, and did several remarkable community services which paved the way for his election as a law maker,” the group said.
According to MIND Executive Director, Sekou D. Sonii, he has served with distinction, integrity, and responsibleness, commanding colleagues and public respect for his expertise and accountable style of leadership over the years.
The CSO group said with demonstration of decency in both public and private services which encapsulates accountability and trustworthiness as well as transparency in the use of public authority projected him for the Speakership election.
It added: Now, therefore, in view of the search for Leadership of the house of representatives of the 55th Legislature, in search in which Hon. Koffa has presented himself for preference by his colleagues, we declare our unquestionable support for him as the well-suited candidate for the post.”
Rep. Koffa is a leading contender in the upcoming speakership election of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature. He boasts the support of his Coalition for Democratic Change’s bloc and score of independent elected lawmakers. He is up against Rep. Richard Koon (District #11, Montserrado County) of the Unity Party.
Also, in the statement, the group said: “We opine that his contenders are reputationally a massive mismatch to him as we observed that his contenders, knowing their faults and being deficit of public trust, have commenced huge dollarization of the process to blind their colleagues’ eyes to the reality of their ineptitude and lack of integrity. We call on the rest of the members to avoid being manipulated by monies being distributed by contenders for the post of speaker and do the requisite due diligence for the sake of getting the best suitable candidate for the post.”
The MIND Executive Director, Sonii said his group is certain that the most preferable for the post is Hon. Koffa, and he shall only be the one elected for the post. Deputy Speaker Koffa, he said, represents everything for better leadership of the 55th Legislature. Sonii added that Koffa’s earlier service on different committees and chair of the Committee on Judiciary at the Lower house before ascending to the Deputy Speaker position of 54th Legislature is a testimonial of the high level of expertise and integrity that he brings to the fore.
The group then urged his colleagues to act rightly by voting Deputy Speaker Koffa for the Speakership position as a way of upholding the public respect and decency of the Office of Speaker of the 55th Legislature.