Liberia: ‘Don’t Dash Liberians’ Hope’ – Rep. Foko Urges Colleagues at House of Representatives

Rep. Foko’s statement comes after he abstained from the first Representative Retreat under the watch of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.

Monrovia – Montserrado County District #9 Representative Frank Saah Foko says the hope of the Liberian people has been betrayed by the Executive Branch and the House of Senate adding that his fellow colleagues from the House should not follow the same.

By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)-websterclayeh@frontpageafricaonline.com

 The Montserrado County District #9 Representative’s statement comes after he abstained from the first Representative Retreat under the watch of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.

 According to him, the Executive Branch of government does not have a solution to the Liberian people problem and the Senate, in his wisdom, is following its footsteps judging from the Senate’s recent retreat held in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.

 “How did you go and use US$500.000 when those very staffers in the Capitol Building are not earning anything? We pay the people at Capitol Building chicken change (small money),” he said. “When you passed the budget, you couldn’t increase the salary for those people who are serving us in the Legislature. But you were able to use over 500k for a Senate Retreat in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.”

Also, as members of the House of Representatives have ended their three-day “Reform Forum,” the Montserrado County District #9 Representative was absent.

The forum, according to the House, is aimed at discussing methods of implementing legislative reforms but Representative Foko, after listening to the calls from members of his District Council and elders, calling on him not to attend the retreat, was left with no options but to abstain from the event “because it will not better the lives of the Liberian people, especially now where the lives of the people are becoming deplorable.”

Addressing the speaker, he said: “Speaker Koffa, I’m disappointed in you. Speaker Koffa, I’m seeing that you want to dash the hope of the Liberian people. The Liberian people have placed their hope in you. They have lost their hope in the Executive, they have lost their hope in the Senate and the hope of the Liberian people are relying on the House of Representative headed by Fonati Koff.”

The Montserrado County District #9 Representative added: “I stay away from this retreat on the grounds that the people of Liberia are not treated to the decision we made at the Capitol Building.” 

At the retreat, Speaker Koffa announced that the House, in partnership with the European Union, Sweden Sverige, Irish Aid, UNDP, and UN Women, has sponsored the retreat under the theme: “Responsive Lawmaking, Proactive Oversight, and People-Centered Representation”.

Foko says having international development partners sponsoring Representatives’ Retreat -something he believes the Executive branch of government can do, is something that could undermine the working of the Representatives.

“Today, I stay away, as you see here, my elders, my district council members, the retreat today, is it necessary? I will tell you yes. Speaker had been able to work with our developmental partners to support our retreat. Here is my disappointment, should we still look over to international partners to fund our retreat? So that those donors can come and tell us how to run the affairs of our country?” he asked.

Representative Foko added: “Are we still subjecting ourselves to organizations? We do respect those international and we appreciate their contribution to our country but to reach to this extent for which the Executive failure to support the House of Representative in keeping with what was passed into law as per our budgetary support is strangulating the House of Representative.” 

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