-Over Delays in Card Distribution
The House of Representatives has invited authorities of the National Identification Registry (NIR) to appear before plenary on Thursday, June 19, 2025, to explain the persistent delays in issuing National Identification Cards to citizens across the country.
The decision follows a formal communication from Bong County District #6 Representative, Hon. Moima Dabah Briggs-Mensah, who raised concerns over the slow processing of ID cards despite applicants completing full registration, including biometric photo capture and payment.
According to the lawmaker, the delays have affected access to basic financial services—particularly for civil servants, contractors, rural residents, and vulnerable groups—due to the enforcement of Executive Order No. 126, which requires a valid National ID for receiving or cashing government-issued checks.
Rep. Briggs-Mensah also expressed concern over the limited recognition of the Liberian passport for financial transactions, arguing that the Executive Order has unfairly sidelined the internationally accepted travel document.
The Salala District lawmaker urged plenary to demand full disclosure from the NIR on the causes of the backlog, any technical or financial constraints, and what steps are being taken to address the situation.
She further recommended the inclusion of the Liberian passport as an alternative identification document for banking and public transactions.
The House’s decision mandates the NIR to present a clear plan for improving service delivery and explain how the Legislature may assist in strengthening its operations.
Meanwhile, theVice President of the Guinean Parliament, Hon. Meimouna Yomoudou, on Monday on behalf of the President is Claude Kory Kondiano warmly received the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia, Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon, and his high-level delegation in Conakry, Guinea.
The visit marks a significant step toward deepening parliamentary diplomacy among the nations of the Mano River Union.
Speaker Koon, leading a three-member legislative delegation, arrived in Guinea on a two-day official visit aimed at fostering inter-parliamentary cooperation and regional integration.
Accompanying him were Hon. Nehker Gaye, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee; Hon. Austin B. Taylor, Chairman of the Maritime Committee; and Hon. Samson Q. Wish, Co-Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Upon their arrival at the Guinea–Sierra Leone border, the delegation was honored with a ceremonial welcome by Guinean state security and protocol officials before proceeding to the capital city, Conakry.
The visit is part of a broader initiative by Speaker Koon to strengthen ties among legislatures within the Mano River basin. Prior to Guinea, the Speaker made similar visits to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the Republic of Sierra Leone.
Central to his current diplomatic mission is the proposal to establish a Mano River Union Parliamentary Network, a platform designed to promote dialogue, collaboration, and legislative synergy among member states of the Mano River Union.
Vice President Yomoudou expressed Guinea’s strong support for enhanced parliamentary collaboration and welcomed the proposal for the new network, emphasizing the importance of legislative diplomacy in addressing regional challenges and advancing sustainable development.
The Speaker and his delegation are expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with Guinean parliamentary and government officials during their stay.
