Published: June 20, 2025
CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – Bong County District 6 Representative Moima Briggs Mensah on Thursday sharply criticized her colleagues in the House of Representatives, accusing them of prioritizing their relationships with the Executive Branch over their constitutional oversight responsibilities.
Her comments came during a tense plenary session in which National Identification Registry (NIR) Executive Director Andrew Peter appeared before lawmakers to explain challenges with the rollout of biometric ID cards under Executive Order 147. The executive order, signed by President Joseph Boakai, requires the cards for all public service transactions.
NIR Under Scrutiny
Peter struggled to answer questions surrounding prolonged delays in issuing the ID cards, reports of unequal regional distribution, and a controversial US$5 processing fee. Lawmakers had summoned him following public outcry from citizens who reported difficulties acquiring or renewing their biometric identification.
Briggs Mensah: “Stop the Friendship”
Rep. Briggs Mensah, visibly frustrated, called out what she described as a culture of passivity among legislators toward executive agencies.
“I know we want to be friends, I know we want to collaborate. But please, these are the things that made us what we are today,” she said. “The past government didn’t come back because we couldn’t point out the wrongdoing. Every time people say, ‘Let’s leave it,’ these executive people don’t respect us as legislators.”
She continued: “They sit in their gatherings and say a lot of negative things about us. If we can’t do anything for ourselves, let’s stop the friendship and do our work.”
Her statement was met with mixed reactions—some lawmakers nodded in agreement, while others remained silent, maintaining visible ties with senior executive officials.
Oversight in Question
The NIR has faced intense criticism for its inability to meet the nationwide demands of the executive order. Citizens in rural areas, in particular, have reported lack of access, poor communication, and inadequate distribution mechanisms.
Despite mounting complaints, the Legislature has been accused of responding slowly to the agency’s failings. Civil society organizations have increasingly pressured lawmakers to intensify their scrutiny of executive agencies and uphold their oversight responsibilities.
Briggs Mensah, who has previously voiced support for a comprehensive audit of the Legislature itself, said the House must prioritize institutional reforms if it hopes to regain public trust.
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