Jeremiah Koung
{{Short description|Vice President of Liberia since 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Liberian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jeremiah Koung
| image = Vice President Koung (cropped).jpg
| caption = Koung in 2024
| office1 = 31st Vice President of Liberia
| president1 = Joseph Boakai
| term_start1 = 22 January 2024
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Jewel Taylor
| successor1 =
| office2 = Member of the Senate of Liberia
from Nimba County
| alongside2 = Prince Johnson
| term_start2 = 14 January 2021
| term_end2 = 22 January 2024
| predecessor2 = Thomas S. Grupee
| successor2 = Nya D. Twayen Jr.
| office3 = Member of the House of Representatives of Liberia
| term_start3 = 2012
| term_end3 = 2021
| predecessor3 = Francis Luogon Karway
| successor3 = Samuel N. Brown Sr.
| constituency3 = Nimba-1
| birth_name = Jeremiah Kpan Koung
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|03|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Yekepa, Nimba, Liberia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Unity Party
| otherparty = National Union for Democratic Progress
Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction
| spouse = Synleseh Stephanie Dahn-Koung
| children =
| alma_mater = Cuttington University (BA)
| occupation = Politician
}}
Jeremiah Kpan Koung Sr. (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, after Koung had become a member of the Unity Party, Joseph Boakai selected Koung as his running mate during his presidential run.
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.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://eranews.org/in-profile-who-is-sen-jeremiah-kpan-koung/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118215526/https://eranews.org/in-profile-who-is-sen-jeremiah-kpan-koung/|title=IN PROFILE: Who Is Sen. Jeremiah Kpan Koung|publisher=Era News|archive-date=18 November 2023|date=29 April 2023|accessdate=23 November 2023}} Koung is married to Synleseh Stephanie Dahn-Koung.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://joeboakai2023.com/koung/|title=Sen. Jeremiah Koung|publisher=Joseph Boakai 2023|date=2023|accessdate=14 March 2025}}
Koung was elected to the House of Representatives of Liberia in 2011, under the National Union for Democratic Progress banner.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://necliberia.org/results/representative.php?&7d5f44532cbfc489b8db9e12e44eb820=MjM5Mg%3D%3D|title=2011 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION RESULTS|publisher=National Election Commission of Liberia|date=|accessdate=13 October 2023}} Koung's campaign was endorsed by ex-warlord Senator Prince Johnson.{{cite web|last=Karmo|first=Henry|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-prince-johnson-steps-aside-as-standard-bearer-of-the-movement-for-democratic-reconstruction-sen-koung-to-take-over/|title=Liberia: Prince Johnson 'Steps Aside' as Standard Bearer of the Movement for Democratic Reconstruction, Sen. Koung to Take Over|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=21 December 2022|accessdate=13 October 2023}}{{cite web|last=Dodoo|first=Lennart|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-boakai-to-announce-jeremiah-koung-as-running-mate-leaving-key-political-allies-disappointed/|title=Liberia: Boakai To Announce Jeremiah Koung as Running Mate Leaving Key Political Allies Disappointed|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=27 April 2023|accessdate=13 October 2023}} He represented the Nimba County #1 District.{{cite web |last=|first=|url=https://www.ndi.org/sites/default/files/KNOW%20YOUR%20REPRESENTATIVE.pdf|title= Know Your Representatives|publisher=National Democratic Institute|date=2012|accessdate=13 October 2023}} In 2011, Koung began construction of the Ester and Jereline Medical Center. It was completed in July 2016.{{cite web|last=Doue|first=Rita Jlogbe|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/opinion/press-release/fact-checked-martin-kollies-claims-on-hospital-built-by-jeremiah-koung-not-entirely-true/|title=FACT-CHECKED: Martin Kollie's Claims on Hospital Built by Jeremiah Koung Not Entirely True|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=29 September 2023|accessdate=13 October 2023}} 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. He claimed he had turned the hospital over to the government, however, no documents disclosing such a transfer have been produced.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://cental.org.lr/index.php/media-center/news/item/114-press-conference-liberia-corruption-has-its-way-but-ambassador-mccarthy-is-man-of-truth|title=Liberia: Corruption Has Its Way, but Ambassador McCarthy is Man of Truth|publisher=Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia|date=26 April 2023|accessdate=13 October 2023}}
In the 2017 election, Koung was re-elected to his Nimba County House seat under the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) banner.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://necliberia.org/results/representative.php?&7d5f44532cbfc489b8db9e12e44eb820=MQ%3D%3D|title=2017 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION RESULTS|publisher=National Election Commission of Liberia|date=|accessdate=13 October 2023}} In the 2020 election, Koung's senatorial run was again endorsed by Senator Johnson.{{cite web|last=Sieh|first=Rodney|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/front-slider/liberia-jeremiah-koung-gets-backing-of-prince-johnson-in-nimba-senatorial-election/|title=Liberia: Jeremiah Koung Gets Backing of Prince Johnson in Nimba Senatorial Election|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=22 June 2020|accessdate=13 October 2023}} Koung won election to the Senate, again running with the MDR.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://necliberia.org/results/senate.php?&7d5f44532cbfc489b8db9e12e44eb820=MTAyOQ%3D%3D|title=2020 SENATORIAL ELECTION RESULTS|publisher=National Election Commission of Liberia|date=|accessdate=13 October 2023}} Koung became the second leader of the MDR party after an election on 22 December 2022, succeeding founder of the party, Senator Johnson.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://independentprobe.com/2022/12/24/34044/|title=Sen. Jeremiah Koung Becomes MDR New Political Leader|publisher=The Independent Probe Newspaper|date=24 December 2022|accessdate=13 October 2023}} As standard bearer, Koung continued Johnson's policy of opposing the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change.{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Obediah|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-sen-koung-vows-to-discourage-pay-for-play-ahead-of-october-elections/|title=Liberia: Sen. Koung Vows to Discourage Pay-for-Play ahead of October Elections|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=30 January 2023|accessdate=13 October 2023}}
On 28 April 2023, former vice president and standard bearer of the Unity Party (UP), Joseph Boakai announced Koung as his running mate for Boakai's 2023 presidential run.{{cite web|last=Karweye|first=S.|url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-corruption-allegations-against-jeremiah-koung-senator-becomes-vice-presidential-aspirant|title=Liberia: Corruption Allegations Against Jeremiah Koung as the Senator Becomes UP Vice Presidential Aspirant|publisher=Liberian Observer|date=16 May 2023|accessdate=13 October 2023|archive-date=29 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129062445/https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-corruption-allegations-against-jeremiah-koung-senator-becomes-vice-presidential-aspirant|url-status=dead}} Koung became a full member of the UP before to his selection as running mate.{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/liberia-vp-koung-distances-himself-from-mdr-after-party-congratulated-rep-richard-koon-on-controversial-speaker-election/|title=Liberia: VP Koung Distances Himself from MDR After Party Congratulated Rep. Richard Koon on Controversial Speaker Election|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=28 November 2024|accessdate=28 November 2024}} 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.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/liberia-presidential-election-goes-run-off-electoral-commission-2023-10-24/|title=Liberia presidential election heads for November run-off vote|publisher=Reuters|date=24 October 2023|accessdate=13 November 2023}} 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.{{cite web|last=Doloquee|first=Franklin|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-several-hospitalized-as-sen-prince-johnson-and-up-vice-running-mate-senator-jeremiah-koung-narrowly-escape-death-in-ambush/|title=Liberia: Several Hospitalized As Sen. Prince Johnson And Up Vice Running Mate Senator Jeremiah Koung Narrowly Escape Death In Ambush|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=13 November 2023|accessdate=13 November 2023}}{{cite web|last=Harmon|first=William Q.|url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-boakai-accuses-govt-harassment-intimidation-ahead-runoff|title=Liberia: Boakai Accuses Gov't of Harassment, Intimidation Ahead of Runoff|publisher=Liberian Observer|date=13 November 2023|accessdate=13 November 2023}}
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.{{cite web|last=Dodoo|first=Lennart|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/front-slider/pres-weah-concedes-defeat-congratulates-president-elect-joseph-boakai/|title=Pres. Weah Concedes Defeat, Congratulates President-elect Joseph Boakai|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=17 November 2023|accessdate=17 November 2023}}
References
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{{LiberianVicePresidents}}
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Category:Cuttington University alumni
Category:Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction politicians
Category:National Union for Democratic Progress politicians
Category:Unity Party (Liberia) politicians
Category:Vice presidents of Liberia
Category:Members of the House of Representatives of Liberia
Category:Members of the Senate of Liberia