The youthful representative-elect of Bong County District #7 is seeking the Deputy Speaker position at the 55th Legislature.
By Edwin Genoway
Foday Fahnbulleh was recently elected during the October 10 2023 legislative elections as representative to the national legislature on behalf of Fuamah and Sanoyea Administrative Districts in lower Bong following years of advocacy.
He promised to bring Balance and Corporate Accountability to the 55th Legislature through his legislative oversight and responsibility including lobbying with colleagues to restore the perceived damage image of that august body.
“It is just few of our colleagues that create that bad image in the minds of our people but once we get there we will try our best and do the needful to bring our colleagues together and foster the the development of our country through our legislative power they gave us,”
His advocacy which is by large corporate responsibility and accountability focused on the implementation of the MDA signed between China Union Mining Company and the Government of Liberia.
The MDA among other things seeks to improve the social and economic conditions of Fuamah and Sanoyea Administrative Districts.
Prior to the advocacy venture of Hon. Fahnbulleh the portions of the MDA that should benefit the communities in which they operate was practically unimplemented.
Following series of advocacy efforts, some improvements have been made with regards to the implementation of the terms of the MDA. However, like various corporate institutions operating in Liberia, China Union continues to renege on its responsibilities.
Fahnbulleh during his campaign promised to keep pressuring China Union to ensure the full implementation of the MDA. Some notable achievements from Fahnbulleh’s advocacy include the pavement of the Bong Mines Road (not yet completed) and employment of locals into the management of the
company. Fahnbulleh’s advocacy led to his arrest in 2013 when he refused to abandon his quest and insisted that the MDA must be implemented.
With this experience, Fahnbulleh has vowed to ensure corporate accountability from the perspective of the Legislature and by extension national governance. Fahnbulleh who holds a Master degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor degree in Accounting from the University of Liberia, indicated that as Deputy Speaker, he will work with his colleagues to ensure that all concessions agreements are properly scrutinized and implemented.
Fahnbulleh also indicated that his ascendancy to the position of Deputy Speaker will help provide a geographic balance to the government considering
that the President and Vice President will be from Northern Liberia and the Speaker could potentially come from either South Eastern Liberia or Northern Liberia based on the candidates vying for the Speakership. Were he to be elected, he will be the only top national leader from Central Liberia.
Fahnbulleh, a former Consultant at the Ministry of Public Works, currently faces competition from CDC Thomas Fallah of Lofa County where the President comes from and Samuel Korgar from the PUP of Nimba County where the Vice President comes from. His other challenger is Moima Briggs of the same Bong County who was supported by outgoing Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor of the CDC.
The former student leader at the University of Liberia was elected as an independent candidate alongside 18 other representatives. There are also a number of representatives who are former student and youth leaders including Anthony Williams who defeated Speaker Bhofal Chambers of the CDC.
Fahnbulleh who is the only newcomer vying for the Deputy Speaker position is one of 48 newly elected representatives. When elected, Fahnbulleh will also be the youngest Deputy Speaker to have been elected thereby proving the point that young people are ready to lead.
A candidate needs at least 37 votes of the 73 representatives to be elected as Deputy Speaker. The election takes place when the 55th Legislature opens in January.
