Rep. Mensah Wants Molestation Eliminated Against Teenage Prostitutes By: Yassah J. Wright

Bong County District #6, Representative, Moima Briggs Mensah wants prostitution standardized to eliminate molestation against 12, 13, & 14- years- old girls. Rep. Mensah, who also chairs the House committee on Gender, Children, and Social Protection, said girls ages 12 and 14 are molested by grown up men for $150-200 LRD. The Bong County District #6 Lawmaker has clarified that she did not call for legalization of prostitution after coming under huge criticism from both her colleagues and the public. Rep. Mensah, a staunch advocate for women’s rights, leads the Women Legislative Caucus. According to her, standardizing sex work will help to reduce the molestation of young women and girls in Liberia. “I’m hurt with the manner our daughters are being molested in the streets. I can never call for the legalization of prostitution,” Rep. Mensah clarified. Rep. Mensah, who chairs Liberia’s parliament to the Holy Land, Israel, said she is married and a mother of seven girls as such, there is no way she can call for the legalization of sex work.  “I said, let’s come and standardized, standardization is to implement. Enforce the laws that are on the books. Let’s make sure we develop a consensus on how we can tackle this thing.” She continued: “those that are interested in it, the churches, mosques, women institutions, and the government. Let’s come with a plan that will take our girls off the streets.”

The Bong County District #6 Lawmaker emphasized that there are instances where she has had interactions with young girls who hang clothes on 14th street who told her that they are doing sex work just to have little cash. Rep. Mensah said she came across a girl who was having issues with two motorcyclists who had sex with her for $250LRD each, but were refusing to pay her the initial $250LRD that was agreed upon and instead paid her $ 150LD after satisfying themselves.

According to her, she has written several communications to the then Gender Minister and former Police IG in finding a lasting solution to the problems but nothing was done to change the narrative. “I can take you to a particular spot on 14th street where the girls hang clothes and some men are beating on them to have sex in order to share the money with them,” Rep.Mensah revealed. According to her,  in the coming days, she  will launch a taskforce across the country, ensuring that young girls aged, 12, 13, & 14 leave the streets.  She, however, called on all well-meaning Liberian to join her in the fight to combat sexual exploitation and molestation against young girls and women in Liberia.