MONROVIA – As the race for the Speaker position intensifies between the soon-to-be ruling Unity Party candidate, Representative Richard Nagbe Koon, and the soon-to-be opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Cllr. Fornati Koffa, the race for who becomes Deputy Speaker is not going unnoticed.
By Henry Karmo, [email protected]
Representative Samuel Korgar of Nimba District 5, Buyao District has expressed his interest in becoming the next Deputy Speaker. As a third-term lawmaker, he sees himself as best suited for the position based on his “experience.”
Representative Korgar is currently the chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce and Industry. He is also a strong advocate for struggling Liberian businesses to compete with their foreign counterparts. He recently proposed a law that will institute the necessary checkpoints against foreign businesses.
He is optimistic about becoming the next Deputy Speaker because he is going into the race with a huge constituent vote of 9 districts, second only to Montserrado County. He believes soliciting the nine votes along with other alliances he has built over the years will be crucial.
“I have built a relationship of trust with my colleagues, and this is what I need to win the position as Deputy Speaker. I built relationships with colleagues over the years, something that stands out as an advantage for me in my quest to be Deputy Speaker.”
If he is to win, it’s not going to come on a silver platter, as he has a competitor in Representative Moima Briggs-Mensah from Bong County District #6. For her, it is about women representation in leadership.
Unlike Korgar, who’s serving his third term, Representative Moima Briggs-Mensah is in her second term after winning re-election in October 2023. For her, female representation and gender balance in leadership are her trump cards.
In a Facebook post, she’s quoted as saying: “Since my first election in 2017 till this day, I have fought for female inclusion in National leadership and governance. And I have vowed to compete with my male counterparts for the office of the Deputy Speaker of the 55th National Legislature of the Republic of Liberia.”
“I will strive to uplift few reasons why all female in the legislature and other female should stand up with me and trust female (me) with this leadership:
“Females are the less corrupt people in the world, We have the power to do multiple of works at the same time, We are the backbone of their homes, their girls children, their mothers will join me in this fight for gender inclusiveness in national government.”