As campaign for the 2023 general and presidential elections begin on today, Saturday, August 5, 2023, Liberians amid their nationalistic obligation to choose or vote for the people of their choice for their admirable services to the nation and its people, already some have been given their ‘Grade Cards’ for such.
One of such Liberians who have over the years played his jingoistic role for the growth and development of his country, Liberia, be it in the private and public sectors making sure that his home country’s image is brighten locally and internationally is the current Deputy Speaker of the 54th National Legislature.
Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa, affectionately call ‘HonCllr Koffa’, who is also the direct legislative representative of the people of Grand Kru County, specifically District #2, has made numerous developmental strives in the interest of the country and its people, notably such services being offered by this committed Liberian have no border.
Since his election as Lawmaker of his home county, Grand Kru County, HonCllr Koffa developmental impact has been felt amongst the entire citizenry in that southern part of Liberia; providing uncountable scholarships to young Liberians who are in pursuit of quality education including the construction of schools, and health institutions in that part of the country.
This generosity of the soft-spoken Deputy House Speakers is not only being felt by his kinsmen in his county but to the general public including his fellow lawmakers who believed in his political ideology and his nationalistic value and contributions to the growth of the country and the economic empowerment its people.
Due to these and others, the international community through the African Leadership Magazine produced by the African Leadership Organization based in the United Kingdom he was recently honored and awarded as African Outstanding Lawmaker, the first to be received by a sitting Liberian lawmaker.
Back home, HonCllr Koffa was also received the Golden Image Outstanding Award in Empowerment, and was also admitted into the Humane Order of African Redemption with the Grade of “Knight Great Band” by the Liberian leader, President George Manneh Weah during Liberia’s 176th Independence Day in the presence of dozens of dignitaries in Monrovia.
For his numerous services, many Liberians who have trooped to in their various communities to campaign for their various candidates explained that the current Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives be awarded the speakership due to his professional and good leadership at the House, they are recommending that the incoming 55th legislature endorse his candidature as Speaker.
In order to buttress the support of HonCllr Koffa, the Grand Kru United Youth recently in their thank you and appreciation gathered in their numbers to express their feelings for the level of development and humanitarian impact being felt in the county.
GNN Correspondent in Barclayville, the capital city of Grand Kru County in a mobile phone interview disclosed that the reelection bid of HonCllr Koffa for District #2 is on course, and is expected to be reelected with ‘No If and End’, our Correspondent quoting multiple sources in the county said.
Achievements Of Deputy Speaker Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa
US$3.5 Million disbursement for 5 years District Developments cost including personal Requests and Assistance
Job Creation/ Employment:
Hon. Cllr. Koffa has managed to empower and employed thirty Liberians citizens both at his capitol Building office and staff assigned in District in County
Employed 15 Grand Kru and Liberian citizens at his Radio Station in Barclayville City in the county the Ahteenah Radio
Recommended and influenced the employment of over 20 Grand Kru and Liberian Citizens at Various Line Ministries and Agencies since 2018 to date
Contribution to Education sector
Construction of Six Schools
Construction of Chengbwetee Elem School in Upper Dorbor value US $60,000
Constructed Taybu Elem School value US $ 60,000
Construction of G. T Worjloh Elem School in Sasstown Dowbeach worth US $ 60,000
Construction of Sally Toogbabu Elem School in Buah Wropluken worth US $ 67,000
Construction of Kaykey Elem School (two Annexes) in Barclayville valued US $75,000
6. Construction of Fleneken Jr. High School in Kplio Community valued US $ 70,000
Renovation of Schools
Negotiated and influenced the Allotment and payment of US $ 50,000 for the Renovation of Barclayville Central High School.
Donated 200 bags of cement to George Toe Washington School for Renovation.
Barforwin Public School Renovation… 200 bags of cement
Jarkakpo Public School Renovation… 50 bags of Cement
Kaykpo Public School Renovation… 50 bags of cement
Donated 30 bags of Cement to Niplakpo Public School
Donated 100 bags of Cement to Dioh Public School for Renovation
Donated 50 bags of cement and 4 bundles of Zinc to A.A Huff Jr. High School for Renovation.
Wutuken Public School… 60 bags of cement for Renovation
Joploken Public School… 50 bags of cement for Renovation
Donated 15 Bundles of Zinc to Putu Town (Civilized Village) School Renovation.
Financial Aid and Scholarship
Sponsored 100 High School Students in 5 schools during 2018/20219 acaemic year
Sponsored 150 High School Students in 10 schools during 2019/2020 AY
Sponsored 200 High school students during 2021/2022 AY in 14 Schools across the District.
In this current 2022/2023 Academic year he’s sponsoring 215 High school students in 19 Schools across the District
Been Sponsoring 63 students Under his financial Aid/Scholarship Program at Tubman University from 2020 to present
Sponsoring over 100 students in other Universities and colleges in Monrovia some parts of Liberia
Contribution to Teachers
Spent LRD $ 2 million for 150 Volunteer Teachers compensation b/w 2021 and 2022 across District 2
Contributed US $ 3,000 USD towards Grand Kru Teachers at Webo and Kakata Teachers Training Institutes b/w 2020 and 2021
Construction of Town Halls
Constructing a modern Town Hall value US $ 28,000 for Tarken Community in Buah Statutory District.
Interventions in Health
Renovation and Running of Buah Jlateken Clinic
Provided over 1,000 buckets, hand sanitizers and Drugs consignment against the fight of COVID-19 in 2020, in Grand Kru.
Donated 100 pairs of Rain Boots to County Health Team for Surveillance officers
Donated 45KVA Generator worth over $20,000 USD to County Health Team for Rally Time Hospital in April 2021
Donated Six (6) KVA Generator to Dumoe Nimene Hospital – Sasstown
Donated 50 KVA Generator to Taybue Community in Buah
Donated 2.5 KVA Generator to Forpoh Gbanken Community
Donated 2.5 KVA Generator to Gbanken in Forpoh
Donated 5 KVA Generator* to Assembly of God Chruch in Barclayville
Donated Several Drums of Fuel and other Stuff Supplies to Dormu Hospital in Sasstown
Made several Supplies to Buah Health Center for the effective running of the facility
Embarked on efforts to operationalize Doeswen Clinic
Water and Sanitation
Currently implementing 33 Hand Pumps (Safe Drinking water Project) worth US $ 106, 288- 10 hand pumps are fully completed in Ten Communities( Topoh, Big Suehn, Small Suehn, Felorken, and Fleneken in Kplio; Nyankunpo, Barforwin, Newtown and Jarkakpo in Dorboh; and Carter in Sasstown. While additional 4 Hand pumps construction ongoing in Four communities in Jloh(Betu, Nifu, Dioh, and Niplakpo) are nearing completion.
Rural Electrication (Solar Street Lights project
Provided and installed 50 pieces of solar Street Lights in Gee City of Buah in 2021
Chenwriken..5 Lights
Taybu… 12 Lights
Niplakpo..20 Lights
Dweken…10 lights
Chengbwetee… 10 lights
Worwleken… 10 lights
Kplio Felorken… 40 lights: 10 already installed, 30 are in Process to be installed soon.
Bolloh Poe… 10 lights
Kaykpo… 10 lights
Nyankunp(Bolloh).. 10 lights
Newtown(Bolloh): 10 lights
Barforwin(Bolloh): 20 lights
Nifu(Jloh):19 lights
Nrokwia(sasstown): 16 lights
Diayokpo(sasstown)…16 lights
Road Rehabilitation/Construction
Rehabilitation of Dweken to Parluken Road worth over $35,000 USD
Contributed US$ 15,000 towards Wakpo to Kaykpo Road Construction project in 2021
Donated 7 Drums of Fuel towards the Wakpo to Kaykpo Road Construction in 2021
Contributed 2 Drums of Fuel worth LRD $ 176,000 towards Felorken to Joploken Road construction project
Women Empowerment Program b/w 2021 and 2022 (2million LRD)
Donated One (1million LRD) to Sunshine Women in Barclayville for Business
Donated LRD$ 500,000 to Concern Women of Doeswen for business.
Donated LRD $ 500,000 to Successful Women of Barforwin for Business
Empowerment Program for Disabled Community
Donated US $ 3,000 to the Disabled Community of Grand Kru in 2022 for
Contribution to Orphans in Orphanage Homes
Donated LRD $ 50,000 and USD $ 1,000 in 2021 and 2022 respectively, to the Orphanage Home of Barclayville headed by Mr. Bartholomew Wreh.
Donated US $ 2,000 to the Orphanage Home in Barforwin headed by Rev. Gulden Mentro.
Contribution to Religious Community
Donated LRD $ 500,000 to St. Peter Catholic Church in Barclayville towards the Harvest Festival in 2021.
Donated over 50 rubber Chairs to the UMC in Parluken in 2020
Donated 5 bundles of Zinc towards the Grand kru Muslim Mosque construction in Barclayville.
Donated Musical Set to the Church in Chengbwetee, upper Dorboh in 2021.
Donated Musical Set value *US $ 2,200* to St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Topoh, Barclayville City
Community Youth Empowerment/Interventions
Donated 100 bags of Cement and 6 bundles of Zinc worth *LRD $ 333,500* to Gbalakpo Youth in Felorken (Kplio) for towards the Construction of their Youth Center
Made significant financial contributions worth over US $5,000 towards the successful conduct of Grand Kru Youths Elections that brought to Power Mr. Elijah Wreh and Mr. Rabasco Chea respectively b/w 2020 and 2022
Donated to Youth for Change (YOP) Grand Kru Chapter LRD $ 170,000 in April 2021 and LRD $ 310,000* in March 2022 for their High schools’ Debate Program
Conflict Resolution and Peace Building Efforts
Initiated Peace Talks between Setor and Fleneken Communities to reconcile them in 2019.
Led Efforts as Chairman of Grand Kru Legislative Caucus to resolve the Land conflict between Picnicess and Sasstown Communities in 2022.
Intervened to have under control the Land Dispute between the people of Forpoh Wropluken and Taybu in Buah…peaceful consultations are proceeding.
Embarked on efforts to resolve the Land Dispute between the people of Forpoh Dweken and Parluken in Buah…peaceful consultations are ongoing.
Concluded Plans to set up District 2 Peace Building committee that will comprise of reputable Representatives from each of the six statutory Districts who will work in Collaboration with Liberia Land Authority to resolve Land Disputes in District
Hon. Koffa’s Interventions during Disasters Periods
Donated LRD $ 300,000 to 25 flood Victims in both Barclayville District and Lower Bolloh Areas (Barforwin) in 2019.
Donated LRD $ 250,000 to 22 Storm Disaster Victims in Barclayville City in May 2021
Other Community Empowerment/Interventions
Donated a Power Saw to Money Campaign and assorted Tools including Cutlasses, Shovels, Diggers, Wheel Barrows etc, worth over *US $5,000* for Money Camp to Gbaken rural Road Works(fixing of Bridges and Road side brushing)
Donated one Power Saw to Kladepah Road project (Fixing of Bridges and road side Brushing).
Donated one Power Saw to Fishermen in Fish Town Community in Sasstown Dowbeach for the fixing of fishing Canoes.
Development in Media and Telecommunications
Establishment of Ahteenah Radio and Television Station in G/kru Barclayville
Construction of a modern Radio Station worth US $50,000 in Setor Barclayville
Negotiated and influenced the Construction of the Universal Access GSM Network Tower in Parluken (Forpoh)
Negotiated and influenced the Construction of another Universal Access GSM Network Tower in Dweken (Forpoh).
Security Sector
Hon. Koffa Negotiated and influenced the Assignment/Deployment of additional LIS (formerly BIN) and DEA officers in Grand Kru to beef up the security strength in Grand Kru in 2019.
Led Efforts to regulate the Mining Sector of Grand Kru
In 2022, Hon. Koffa led Efforts as Chairman of Grand Kru Legislative Caucus, with support of his other 3 colleagues, placed Moratorium over illicit Mining Activities that engulfed the County’s mining sector. As a result of the Caucus’ intervention, illicit mining activities, Pollution of Grand Kru waters, Forest degradation, unnecessary depletion of Lands and influx of aliens into Grand Kru have been minimized.
Contributions/Interventions in the Agriculture Sectors
Donated US $2,000 to Chenwriken Community in Buah for Fence Project for the Raising of Cattle
Allotted US $3,000 to Oliver Trueh Agriculture Cooperative Group in District 2 headed by Mayor Oliver Trueh of Niplakpo (initial $ 1,500 was paid to launch the project)
Launching and Running of Karpeh Farm in Taybu Buah headed by his District Agriculture Coordinator Mr. Rabasco Chie with an extension in Barclayville District.
Concluded Assessment to launch over 100 Acres Agriculture project in Sasstown which aims to employ locals in District 2
Donations Towards Festive Seasons Celebration
Donated 25 bag of Rice and LRD $50,000 to each of the Six districts in Electoral District 2 for Christmas Celebration in 2018.
Donated 25 bag of Rice and LRD $100,000 to each of the Six districts in Electoral District 2 for Christmas Celebration in 2019.
Donated 25Kg bag of Rice and LRD $50,000 to each of the Six districts in Electoral District 2 for Christmas Celebration in 2020.
Donated 20 bag of Rice and LRD $100,000 to each of the Six districts in Electoral District 2 for Christmas Celebration in 2021.
Donated LRD $ 280,000 to all friends of JFK in District 2 for Christmas Celebration in 2021
Donated 400 bags of Rice and 12 Barrows Containing assorted clothing for women and Children in July 2022 for the Six districts in Electoral District two.
Donated LRD $ 500,000 to Grand Kru County through MOE & MIA for August 24 Celebration in 2022.
Donated LRD $ 3 million Christmas Package to both JFK Vision supporters commonly known as JFK 2023 Reelection Auxiliaries) and all JFK Friends in the six statutory Districts of Electoral District 2.
Intervention in the Area of Sports
Hugely funded and led the Grand kru sports as Chairman of the County Sports Steering Committee in 2019 and won Trophy to the County after many decades.
Hon. Koffa has been making countless financial supports to Grand kru County Sports from 2019 to present.
Personal Contributions to citizens
Hon. Cllr. Koffa’s Personal Contributions to citizens towards Requests including House Rent, Hospital Bills, Burials, Weddings, Transportation, etc in District accounts for over USD300,000 in 5 years.
Written by Joel Cholo Brooks
