IPNews-Monrovia: Grand Kru District 2 Representative, J. Fonati Koffa, strongly believes that his unique skill set of experience and competence would greatly help in accelerating the legislative rebranding which was promised at the beginning of the 54th Legislature in 2018, if he is elected Deputy Speaker.

Rep. Koffa who is yet to announce his bid for the post says he is consulting with his colleagues in the House of Representatives and will weigh the pros and cons from the consultations before coming up with an official announcement.

“I decided to enter into consultations with my colleagues because I believe I bring a unique skill set of experience and competence into the upper echelon of the house to compliment the leadership so as to steer the acceleration of legislative rebranding which was proffered at the onset of the 54th. Before I enter my name into nomination, it is important that I undergo the consultative process with those who will actually be electing the deputy speaker,” he said.

Hon. Cllr. Koffa chairs the House Judiciary Committee and by ranking, he is considered as the fifth in command at the Legislature.

Though Cllr. Koffa wouldn’t confirm or deny, sources close to him informed Legislative reporters that he is being backed by 25 of his colleagues so far, who have consulted him to contest the seat.

The Deputy Speaker post was made vacant by the election of Rep. Prince Moye to the Liberian Senate.

One of his colleagues who strongly believes that Cllr. Koffa is best suited for the post told journalists on the basis of anonymity, “Hon. Koffa is a man of very good comportment. He has earned the respect of all his colleagues in the House. And I hope our colleagues in the House will see reason to have him elected as Deputy Speaker. His experience and character would enhance the quality of leadership of the Legislature.”

Another lawmaker from Lofa County proffered, “What we need at the leadership of the House of Representatives is quality leadership and characters that earn respect of others and stakeholders. Rep. Koffa represents just that, that is why I would support him.”

Last week, Rep. Vincent Willie was the first to announce support for an aspirant for the post. For him, Rep. Koffa is well-matched for the leadership post. He made the pronouncement on a local radio station.

Who Is Rep. Koffa?

Cllr. Koffa is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill, where he obtained a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree in Law. His educational pursuit took him to Raleigh, North Carolina State University, where he obtained a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Bachelor of Public Administration (Cum Laude) with concentration in Urban Planning, from Shaw University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

Hon. Koffa began his legal career in the United States in 1998 in private practice and then moved to Liberia in 2009 and became a founder and Managing Partner of the International Law Group (ILG), now one of the emerging corporate and government firms in Liberia. He was admitted to the Supreme Court Bar of Liberia as valedictorian of its Class of 2014.

Prior to his election as Representative he served as Minister of State without Portfolio and Legal Advisor to former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from 2014 to 2016.

He began his entry into politics as a founding member of the Liberty Party, the third leading opposition party in Liberia where he was eventually elected as Chairman from 2011 to 2014. During his time as Chairman, he oversaw the growth and expansion of the party including the increase of seats the party held in the National Legislature. He resigned from the Liberty Party in 2018 and joined the Coalition for Democratic Change where he serves as a member of the Executive Council.