Liberia is at a very important stage in its national recovery process. After many years of economic challenges due to several internal and external factors, our country is finally attracting serious international attention in areas like energy, mining, and infrastructure. These investments can help create jobs, increase government revenue, and lift many families out of poverty.But just as progress is being made, former Speaker of the House, Hon. Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, has started spreading misleading information about the Oranto Petroleum Agreement.
His recent comments are not helping Liberia; they are meant to confuse the public, weaken investor confidence, and score political points.
βWhat the Law Actually SaysCllr. Koffa claims that the Oranto Agreement deprives Liberians of their rightful participation. That is not true. Liberiaβs petroleum laws allow the government and its agencies to negotiate ownership terms that fit each project. These terms depend on how risky or expensive the project is.The interest assigned to the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) is a national share that belongs to all Liberians. NOCAL manages it on behalf of the people. Saying that Liberians are left out because their share is managed by NOCAL is both wrong and misleading.Koffa also claims that the signature bonus in the Oranto deal is illegal.
That is false. The law only requires that all money from petroleum activities be properly recorded and paid into the national treasury. Once this is done and the Ministry of Finance includes it in the national budget, there is full compliance with the law.He also complains about the clause that allows the company to recover exploration costs. But this is a normal part of petroleum contracts everywhere in the world. If oil is found, the company can recover its costs. If no oil is found, the company loses all the money it spent. Cllr. Koffa knows this well, so his claims are clearly meant to mislead the public.
βEconomic Facts Over Political TalkKoffa compares Liberiaβs one point two million dollar bonus to Ghanaβs twenty million dollar bonus, but this is not fair. Ghanaβs oil blocks were already producing oil when those bonuses were paid, while Liberiaβs oil blocks are unexplored and risky. No serious investor will pay a high amount for an area that has not yet been proven to contain oil.Liberiaβs economy is also struggling. Our government has low revenue, high debt, and many urgent needs. That is why responsible foreign investment is so important. By attacking the Oranto deal without facts, Koffa is not protecting Liberia; he is making it harder for the country to grow.When a senior lawmaker publicly attacks legal agreements that he could improve through the internal legislative ratification process, investors begin to lose confidence. This delays projects and prevents job creation. That is not patriotism. It is carelessness, bitterness, and economic sabotage.
βPolitics of Bitterness and HypocrisyCllr. Koffaβs recent behavior reflects political bitterness rather than principle. During his six years as Deputy Speaker under the CDC government, he actively participated in and even led the approval of several investment agreements that were far less transparent than the Oranto deal he now criticizes.At that time, he raised no public concern about the legal or financial soundness of those deals. In fact, his private law firm, the International Law Group (ILG), reportedly handled or provided legal services for some of those very transactions while he served as Deputy Speaker, a possible conflict of interest.
This direct involvement makes his sudden moral outrage both hypocritical and self-serving.Having benefited from and defended less transparent deals while in power, Koffa now seeks to appear as a champion of accountability only after losing political influence and being recently booted out as Speaker. That is not the behavior of a patriot. It is the posture of a frustrated politician seeking relevance.True patriotism means standing for what is right, regardless of who is in charge. It means strengthening the nationβs institutions rather than tearing them down to gain attention. Koffaβs current statements show that he is more focused on remaining in the headlines than on protecting Liberiaβs economic image.
βWhy Investment MattersLiberia needs jobs for its young people, better roads, and more energy. None of this can happen without private investment. Investors, however, want to see a country that is stable, predictable, and serious about development.When leaders misrepresent legal deals, it sends a bad message that Liberia is unpredictable and unsafe for investment. That leads to fewer opportunities, slower development, and more suffering for ordinary citizens.
βA Centrist and Patriotic Way ForwardLiberia needs leaders who act with balance, integrity, and love for the country. The centrist way is about putting nation before party, progress before pride, and truth before propaganda.The government should continue to promote transparency and accountability. But opposition leaders should also act responsibly. Criticism is important, but it should be honest and fact-based. Oversight should help build investor trust, not destroy it.
βMoving Forward with Facts and PatriotismLiberiaβs future will not be built on anger or empty noise. It will be built on truth, fairness, and responsible leadership.As a lawyer and teacher, I believe that every agreement should be carefully studied before we make conclusions. Once the official copy of the Oranto Petroleum Agreement is available, I will publish a clear, fact-based review from a centrist and patriotic point of view, one that focuses on truth, transparency, and what is best for the Liberian people.Liberia deserves honest and visionary leadership, not bitterness pretending to be patriotism.
