Senate confirms Koijee
The Liberian Senate has confirmed the youngest mayor for the nation’s capital Monrovia, Mr. Jefferson T. Koijee, a long – serving chairperson of President George Manneh Weah’s ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) youth wing.
Mr. Koijee’s confirmation follows an articulate presentation before the Senate’s Committee on Internal Affairs and Good Governance on Friday, 9 February, thus becoming Monrovia’s youngest mayor.
He succeeds former President Ellen Johnson – Sirleaf’s close friend Madam Clara Doe- Mvogo who served for nearly five years after the administration of former Mayor Mary T. Broh, another close aide of Mrs. Sirleaf. Koijee is said to be the first Mayor to be confirmed by the Liberian Senate since the end of the country’s 14 years of civil war.
The Liberian Senate declined to confirm Mary Broh and her successor Clara Mvogo, after the body felt disenchanted over circumstances surrounding Madam Broh’s conduct.
By protocol, the decision of the Senate has been forwarded to the office of the President. All members of the Senate Committee on Internal Affairs and Good Governance unanimously signed to confirm Mayor Koijee.
At the hearing, the influential CDC Youth Wing leader promised to operate a participatory system of administration at the Monrovia City Corporation.
He told the senators that every citizen regardless of their political, religious and tribal differences would be involved in the transformation and governance of the City, especially in maintaining its beautification.
“Teamwork inclusive of the involvement of the people living on the margin of society is the surest way to improve and impact a developing Monrovia,” Mr. Koijee says.
Chief among Mayor Koijee’s promises was to launch a “180 – day Clean and Green City Campaign” with support from the government and partners. He notes that this will help maintain cleanliness of Monrovia and provide job opportunities for young people who will be recruited from communities and universities.
According to him, the project will be implemented in every community of Monrovia and environs, especially the densely populated commercial hub of Duala.
With respect to keeping Central Monrovia clean, Mayor Koijee says he will work with members of the Liberian Legislature to revisit city laws to conform to current day realities.
The youthful Mayor concludes that he will work with relevant agencies and authorizes including the Ministry of Public Works to protect zoning laws and partner with the police to protect lives and properties within the city limit.
By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor–Edited by Winston W. Parley
