NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – Speaker of the Liberian House of Representatives Richard Koon has pledged to advocate for support toward the reconstruction of the headquarters of the Liberian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (LICPA) in Congo Town.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Speaker Koon made the commitment Monday when he visited the institution following an invitation from LICPA officials to assess the organization’s needs, challenges, and working conditions.
The visit provided the Speaker, who is himself a professional accountant, an opportunity to observe firsthand the condition of the institution’s headquarters and hear directly from its leadership about the difficulties affecting its operations.
LICPA Headquarters in Deteriorating Condition
LICPA President Papin Daniels told Speaker Koon that although the building is owned by the institution, its current condition has become a major concern.
According to Daniels, visible cracks have developed in several sections of the structure, raising concerns about the safety of employees and others who use the facility.
He said the deteriorating condition of the headquarters has created an urgent need for a safer, more suitable, and modern facility capable of accommodating LICPA’s growing responsibilities and operations.
The situation, officials believe, could also affect the institution’s ability to effectively carry out its mandate of strengthening Liberia’s accountancy profession.
Speaker Koon Promises to Advocate for Support
Responding to the concerns, Speaker Koon pledged to use his position within the Legislature to advocate for assistance for LICPA, including efforts to secure an allocation to support the reconstruction of its headquarters.
He urged the institution’s leadership to formally document its needs and challenges so that appropriate action can be pursued.
“We can resolve the problem here since you got me now as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and this is my profession. It’s better you take advantage of me,” Speaker Koon said.
“You don’t know what will come tomorrow, so let me do the best I can do so that we can put LICPA back on the right trajectory.”
The Speaker said his decision to visit the institution was intended to give him firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing LICPA rather than relying solely on reports.
“I need a formal proposal from the LICPA to tell me some of the challenges and what we need to do,” he said.
“That is why I have paid a visit to get firsthand evidence and now from my visitation, I have seen that this place needs more work.”
Focus on Developing Liberian Accountants
Beyond the reconstruction of the headquarters, Speaker Koon said there is a broader need to strengthen Liberia’s capacity to produce and qualify more professional accountants.
He emphasized the importance of developing Liberian professionals who can meet the demands of the country’s public and private sectors and contribute to improved financial management.
“And we need to start qualifying people from Liberia, so we need to do our best in the next three to six years from now,” Koon said.
His remarks place the condition of LICPA’s headquarters within a broader conversation about professional development, institutional capacity, and the need to strengthen Liberia’s financial accountability systems.
Strengthening Financial Accountability
LICPA plays an important role in Liberia’s financial sector as the statutory body responsible for regulating the accountancy profession, promoting professional standards, and advancing financial accountability and transparency.
A stronger institutional environment could therefore support LICPA’s efforts to train and qualify accountants, uphold professional standards, and contribute to better financial reporting and accountability across both government and the private sector.
Speaker Koon’s intervention is expected to provide an opportunity for the institution to formally present its needs and develop a pathway toward addressing its infrastructure challenges.
For LICPA, the Speaker’s visit and commitment could mark the beginning of renewed efforts to rehabilitate or reconstruct its headquarters while strengthening the institution’s capacity to prepare the next generation of Liberian accounting professionals.
The proposed three-to-six-year outlook outlined by Speaker Koon also suggests a longer-term focus on building professional capacity, improving institutional infrastructure, and ensuring that Liberia has a stronger pool of qualified accountants capable of supporting the country’s financial governance and development.
