-Representative Moima Briggs Mensah reacts to House Deputy Speakership election
By Jerromie S. Walters
As widely known, in political processes, alliances are formed and promises are made, but sometimes, betrayal can leave a bitter taste. Such is the case for Bong County District #6 Representative Moima Briggs Mensah, who’s experiencing the agony of disappointment after being betrayed by her colleagues at the legislature.
“I’m disappointed, I’m disgusted and this will not deter me.” Representative Briggs vows to remain more vigilant than she was during the 54th legislature.
Despite earlier assurances of support for her candidacy in the House Deputy Speakership election, she found herself abandoned and left to fend for herself mid Monday, January 15, 2024. Representative Moima Briggs Mensah had shown her support for Cllr. Koffa’s Speakership bid, believing in his ability to lead the legislature.
However, following his election, she told reporters Monday afternoon that she was approached by him (Cllr. Koffa) and other lawmakers who urged her to decline and instead support his colleague from the CDC, Representative Thomas Fallah.
Despite this expected experience,
she refused and thought to go through the process, still hoping to secure the position.
To her dismay, and with what those in the House chambers witnessed, she wasn’t nominated. During her press engagement hours later, she expressed dismay over her colleagues’ deliberate refusal to reciprocate her loyalty and determination. What baffles her the most is that despite their earlier assurances, none of them nominated her to guarantee her candidacy for the House Deputy
Speakership. The House rule makes nomination mandatory to become a candidate. As it has played repeatedly in the case of women, Representative Moima Briggs Mensah’s disappointment highlights the challenges faced by women.
With this betrayal and his involvement from the onset, she questions the honesty and integrity of the Cllr. Koffa to lead the august body. Representative Briggs raises questions about the integrity and reliability of both Representative Fallah and Bility who were nominated, as she now appears to have absolutely no trust in the new leadership.
Women, in their numbers from different civil society organizations, assembled at the Capitol today, Monday, January 15, 2024, in solidarity with Representative Briggs. Unfortunately, it went the other way.
Disappointed also in the female lawmakers,
Representative Moima Briggs Mensah says her disappointment after being betrayed by her colleagues at the legislature is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by women like her who rely on the support and trust of their fellow women. “Even the women did not nominate me.”
Pundits say her comes as the first misstep and display of dishonesty.
Critics of Cllr. Koffa say Representative Briggs’ experience serves as a cautionary tale, urging his colleagues and Liberians to be wary of what they termed as empty promises made during his campaign.
Representative Briggs Mensah is a second-term legislator of Bong County District #6. She was re-elected during the October 10, 2023, legislative and presidential elections. Representative Mensah earlier contested for the Deputy Speakership following her first election as a representative but was unfortunately defeated.
She has been vocal on several critical national issues at the legislature, including budget debates, to genuinely benefit Liberians. Mid-2023, she rallied her colleagues at the legislature to ensure that a remedy was provided to address the mass spread of children who are involved with street selling.
