Liberia: Deputy Speaker Wins Golden Image ‘Outstanding Award’

Deputy Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa has been selected as the Winner of the 2023 Golden Image Outstanding Award in the category of empowerment.

The Deputy Speaker and several other individuals, including Liberians at home and foreigners, will be awarded the prestigious Golden Image Awards in different categories on Thursday, July 20, in the Ballroom of the Monrovia City Hall..

This year will mark the 12th Edition of the Golden Image Award since its founding in 2011, and the award ceremony is being convened this year, as it has been for the last five years, by President George Weah.

In a letter to Cllr. Koffa, Representative of District #2, Grand Kru County, dated July 10, 2023; the National Secretariat of the Golden Image Awards formally announced his selection as winner and recipient of the 2023 Golden Image Award in the national level category of Empowerment.

The secretariat works in concert with Liberia Crusaders for Peace and partners in association with the Liberian government.  

“Your entity selection comes following a thorough research and vetting of names and profiles of individuals, organizations, and countries that were submitted by a network of national and international committee members to the National Secretariat of the Golden Image Award for scrutiny in September 2022,” the community says.

“Your entity profile, which will be read during the official award ceremony, proved captivating and possessed all the attributes listed in the selection criteria; hence, the committee selected you as the Winner of the Golden Image Outstanding Award.”

The Golden Image Award is an annual national Liberian merit award event. This initiative is an outcome of a vision that was conceived by the Liberia Crusaders for Peace 12 years ago. This vision is premised on the need to honor and celebrate unsung heroes whose contributions to society, ranging from peace, development through investment, health, education, leadership, democracy, justice, human rights, arts, culture, and other human development initiatives nationally or internationally, often go unnoticed.

Meanwhile, recently in London, the United Kingdom; the African Leadership Magazine (ALM)  named Koffa as the African Outstanding Lawmaker of the Year and presented him with a glass plaque in recognition of his  excellence.

The ALM, also unveiled its 2023 Magazine, with Liberia’s Deputy Speaker on the cover in his honor, and a bold inscription, Legislative Excellence.

“A very distinguished lawmaker has become a beacon of hope to the seemingly voiceless sections of the (Liberian) people since he began to challenge old-age norms and traditions that  are injurious to  the populace. Among several other milestone achievements, he is known to be at the  forefront of increasing women's representation in Liberia,” the ALM wrote on the cover.

Impact

Between 2017 and 2023, the Deputy Speaker has constructed five schools in Grand Kru County, specifically: Chemgbetee, Sasstown, Taybue, Wropluken and Kayken. The 6th sixth school is at roof level.

To promote media diversity in Grand Kru County, he also constructed two radio stations;  Ahteena Radio and the Voice of Sasstown.

He renovated two health clinics and provided support for their sustenance, as well as subsidizing over 100 volunteer teachers.

Cllr. Koffa is providing scholarships to over 1,300 students in elementary, secondary, and higher educational institutions, including vocational schools.

The Deputy Speaker lobbied for the construction of two universal towers in Parluken and Dweken.

The Deputy Speaker has provided  cash and materials to the renovation of schools,  clinics, churches, mosques, town halls, and youth centers, as well as over L$5m to women empowerment in Grand Kru County, among others. It is for these and many others that the awards committee says it has selected Deputy Speaker Koffa to be honored.