Jeremiah Koung

Jeremiah Kpan Koung (born 17 March 1978) is a Liberian politician who is the 31st and current vice president of Liberia. He served in the House of Representatives of Liberia from 2012 to 2020, and was elected to the Senate of Liberia in 2020. He became the standard bearer of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction in 2022. In 2023, Joseph Boakai selected Koung as his running mate during his presidential run.

Jeremiah Koung
Koung in 2024
31st Vice President of Liberia
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 January 2024
President	Joseph Boakai
Preceded by	Jewel Taylor
Member of the Senate of Liberia from Nimba County
In office 14 January 2021 – 22 January 2024 Serving with Prince Johnson
Preceded by	Thomas S. Grupee
Succeeded by	Nya D. Twayen Jr.
Member of the House of Representatives of Liberia
In office 2012–2021
Preceded by	Francis Luogon Karway
Succeeded by	Samuel N. Brown Sr.
Constituency	Nimba-1
Personal details
Born	Jeremiah Kpan Koung (1978-03-17) 17 March 1978 (age 46) Yekepa, Nimba, Liberia
Political party	Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction
Other political affiliations	National Union for Democratic Progress
Alma mater	Cuttington University (BA)
Occupation	Politician

Biography

Koung was born on 17 March 1978 in Yekepa, Nimba County. There he began his primary school education in 1981. He moved to Ganta with his father in 1983. In 1986, moved to stay with his aunt in Buchanan. His education was interrupted by the First Liberian Civil War in 1990. By 1996, Koung returned to Ganta after spending years in a refugee camp in Guinea. That year he enrolled in high school, graduating by 2001. He started attending Cuttington University in 2006, and graduated with a BA in business administration by 2010.^[1]

Koung was elected to the House of Representatives of Liberia in 2011, under the National Union for Democratic Progress banner.^[2] Koung's campaign was endorsed by ex-warlord Senator Prince Johnson.^[3][4] He represented the Nimba County #1 District.^[5] In 2011, Koung began construction of the Ester and Jereline Medical Center. It was completed in July 2016.^[6] In an investigation the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia found that Koung, between 2012 and 2021, received nearly US$1 million to run this private hospital.^[7] He claimed he had turned the hospital over to the government, however, no documents disclosing such a transfer have been produced.^[8]

In the 2017 election, Koung was re-elected to his Nimba County House seat under the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) banner.^[9] In the 2020 election, Koung's senatorial run was again endorsed by Senator Johnson.^[10] Koung won election to the Senate, again running with the MDR.^[11] Koung became the second leader of the MDR party after an election on 22 December 2022, succeeding founder of the party, Senator Johnson.^[12] As standard bearer, Koung continued Johnson's policy of opposing the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change.^[13]

On 28 April 2023, former vice president and standard bearer of the Unity Party, Joseph Boakai announced Koung as his running mate for Boakai's 2023 presidential run.^[7] After the initial October election, neither Boakai and Koung nor incumbents George Weah and Jewel Taylor received a majority of the vote, triggering a run-off election in November.^[14] On 10 November, during a campaign event in Zor-Zoalay Town, Nimba County, there was an attack involving gunfire. Several were hospitalized, and Senators Koung and Johnson narrowly escaped.^[15][16]

On 17 November 2023, after the run-off election, President Weah conceded the election, resulting in Boakai becoming president-elect and Koung becoming vice president-elect.^[17]

References

1. "IN PROFILE: Who Is Sen. Jeremiah Kpan Koung". Era News. 29 April 2023. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
2. "2011 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION RESULTS". National Election Commission of Liberia. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
3. Karmo, Henry (21 December 2022). "Liberia: Prince Johnson 'Steps Aside' as Standard Bearer of the Movement for Democratic Reconstruction, Sen. Koung to Take Over". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
4. Dodoo, Lennart (27 April 2023). "Liberia: Boakai To Announce Jeremiah Koung as Running Mate Leaving Key Political Allies Disappointed". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
5. "Know Your Representatives" (PDF). National Democratic Institute. 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
6. Doue, Rita Jlogbe (29 September 2023). "FACT-CHECKED: Martin Kollie's Claims on Hospital Built by Jeremiah Koung Not Entirely True". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
7. Karweye, S. (16 May 2023). "Liberia: Corruption Allegations Against Jeremiah Koung as the Senator Becomes UP Vice Presidential Aspirant". Liberian Observer. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
8. "Liberia: Corruption Has Its Way, but Ambassador McCarthy is Man of Truth". Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
9. "2017 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION RESULTS". National Election Commission of Liberia. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
10. Sieh, Rodney (22 June 2020). "Liberia: Jeremiah Koung Gets Backing of Prince Johnson in Nimba Senatorial Election". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
11. "2020 SENATORIAL ELECTION RESULTS". National Election Commission of Liberia. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
12. "Sen. Jeremiah Koung Becomes MDR New Political Leader". The Independent Probe Newspaper. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
13. Johnson, Obediah (30 January 2023). "Liberia: Sen. Koung Vows to Discourage Pay-for-Play ahead of October Elections". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
14. "Liberia presidential election heads for November run-off vote". Reuters. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
15. Doloquee, Franklin (13 November 2023). "Liberia: Several Hospitalized As Sen. Prince Johnson And Up Vice Running Mate Senator Jeremiah Koung Narrowly Escape Death In Ambush". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
16. Harmon, William Q. (13 November 2023). "Liberia: Boakai Accuses Gov't of Harassment, Intimidation Ahead of Runoff". Liberian Observer. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
17. Dodoo, Lennart (17 November 2023). "Pres. Weah Concedes Defeat, Congratulates President-elect Joseph Boakai". Liberian Observer. Retrieved 17 November 2023.