—As Richard Koon Gets Visa Denial Amidst Purchase of Stolen GMC Jeep
IPNEWS: The undisputed Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. Johnathan Fonati Koffa, is in the Ghanian capital Accra, at the invitation of the Government of Ghana, for the inauguration of president-elect John Mahama.
Speaker Koffa, departed Liberia, early Sunday, January 5, 2025, via Asky Airlines into the Ghanian Capital Accra.
According to report, Speaker Koffa will attend the inauguration of President-elect John Mahama, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, and hold discussion with his counterparts including Ghanian Parliament Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, who himself is at circle of internal confusion prompting the Supreme Court Ghana last November 2024, to intervene
On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, President-elect John Dramani Mahama will be sworn in at Accra’s Black Star Square. The event’s seating and security preparations have been made public by the planning committee.
Ahead of this inauguration, certain routes in Accra are beginning to be temporarily restricted to enable efficient traffic flow during the event. Already, 28th February Road, Osu Cemetery Traffic Light, Castle Road, and Starlet 91 Road are now closed.
Following his attendance at the inauguration of President-elect John Dramani Mahama, House Speaker Koffa is expected to depart Accra, Ghana, for Washington D.C. for the inauguration of United States President-elect Donald Trump, as 45th president of the United States scheduled to take place on January 20, 2025.
Meanwhile, the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, has reliably gathered that ‘Majority bloc’ Speaker Richard Koon was denied a application for U.S. Visa, the eve of the Christmas celebrations.
It is not is not clear what prompted Koon’s denial, however, sources closed to ‘Majority bloc’ Speaker Richard Koon hints IPNEWS that a Diplomatic Passport containing the name of Richard Koon carries a title of ‘Speaker of the House of Representative’, which may have led to his denial. ‘majority bloc’ Speaker Koon is yet to respond to an inquiry by IPNEWS over this latest report.
It may be recalled, the ‘Majority bloc’ , in November 2024, informed all Diplomatic Missions of the removal of Cllr. Fonati Koffa, as Speaker of the House of Representatives, whence there was ongoing legal contentions between the ‘majority bloc’ and ‘pro-Koffa’ loyalist.
In the wake of this move by the ‘majority bloc’, the Supreme Court of Liberia ruled on December 6, 2024, that the action by the ‘majority bloc’ was unconstitutional and ‘ultra-Vires”.
The report of Koon’s denial comes a day after report emerged of the investigation by U.S. Homeland Security official of a missing 2024 GMC Yukon, from the State of Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Hours after U.S. officials announced this missing vehicle, the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, with aid of some undisputed sources, reported the discovery of the 2024 GMC Yukon GMC vehicles in Liberia, following an investigation into the ownership of the Jeep erupted minutes it was spotted parked in the driveway of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
IPNEWS understand from several sources that controversial ‘Majority bloc’ Speaker Koon entered an agreement with a prominent car thief (Bush Meat Doctor; name withheld), from the State of Philadelphia, the United States of America for One Hundred Thirty-Five Thousand United States Dollars (USD 135,000.00).
Accordingly, to IPNEWS investigation, Seventy Thousand United States Dollars (USD 70,000.00) was dashed out by controversial ‘majority bloc’ Speaker Richard Koon, with a promised to make balance 65,000.00 within two weeks.
The stolen vehicle is a 2024 GMC Yukon, brought into the country early December 2024, from the State of Philadelphia, the United States of America.
The surfacing of the 2024 GMC Yukon into Liberia brings to two the number of senior Liberian Government officials caught colluding with car thieves operating across the United States.
In 2024, another luxury vehicle controversy ensued after former Commerce Minister, Amin Modad, brought into the country the luxury 2024 Chevy Suburban.
As the controversy mounted after the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, with confident sources in the United States established that the 2024 Chevy Suburban, was purchased from a notable vehicle nabbing gang (Bush-Meat Doctor) in Philadelphia, the United States, with the help some Liberian also involved in the collusion for a price of USD 81,000.
Richard Koon’s self-styled ‘Majority Bloc’, is embroiled in the largest open day corruption scandal ever to hit the House of Representatives.
In a rather shocking revelation, Nimba County District No. 7, Representative Musa Hassan Bility reveals how over $500,000 allocated for the annual Legislative engagement of 28 members of the House of Representatives who are coded as ‘pro-Koffa Supporters ‘was misappropriated and distributed among a select few individuals claiming to be “block leaders” of the Majority Bloc.
The Legislature is embroiled continuously by deep-rooted corruption while the ordinary Liberian suffered.
The revelation by Rep. Bility exposes the blatant misuse of public funds against all anti-graph policies and regulations.
Liberia’s back home have greeter this report of $500,000 distribution among members of the ‘majority Bloc’ with widespread outrage, with many condemning the action as a financial crime that cannot be swept under the rug. Despite attempts to replenish the stolen funds through upcoming budget allocations, the damage has already been done, and the integrity of the Legislature has been severely compromised.
The incident has highlighted a disturbing pattern of corruption and a concerted effort to consolidate power at the expense of accountability. In response, Representative Musa Hassan Bility of Nimba County Electoral District #7 is calling on key institutions, including the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), the Ministry of Justice, the General Auditing Commission (GAC), and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), to take swift and decisive action.
As the world watches, Liberia’s anti-corruption agencies are under pressure to demonstrate their commitment to justice and accountability. The LACC, in particular, has been at the forefront of the fight against corruption, conducting training programs and investigations to root out corruption.
The people of Liberia demand justice and transparency, and it is imperative that those responsible for this egregious abuse of power are held accountable. As Representative Bility emphasized, “The world is watching, and justice must prevail.”
It may be recalled that the ongoing crisis at the House Representative was field by Speaker Fonati Koffa’s relentless pursuit to audit the House of Representatives, especially how millions were diverter into personal accounts of members of the Legislature each budget year.
