By Rancy Clarke, Bong County Correspondent
rancyclarke56@gmail.com
Bong County Representative (District #6), Moimah Briggs Mensah, advocating for a normalized or standardized form of prostitution in Liberia. She wants prostitutes to register and pay taxes for their act in the Country. But
But her advocacy has come under sharp criticism from some citizens of Bong County. In fact, some have condemned Rep. Briggs-Mensah’s recent assertion on a local radio urging for standardized prostitution in Liberia.
If this is anything to go by, Rep. Briggs Mensah wants Liberia to be placed in the category of several countries, including the Netherlands, Bolivia, Greece, Hungary, etc., who have normalized prostitution in their respective countries.
In these countries, prostitution is organized and regulated, although illegal prostitution may take place in these countries. By normalized or standardized prostitution, Rep. Briggs Mensah is advocating for the legal process where anyone wishing to be a prostitute would register with a government agency responsible, be mandated to carry out periodic medical checkup, pay taxes for income they get from plying their trade, among other things.
But District #6 Representative of Bong’s views have not been taken lightly. Some of the citizens are now expressing their disappointment in their representative. Some articulated that it is disappointing to note that the lawmaker would endorse prostitution when she is in fact a female.
The disenchanted citizens hold the view that commercial sex is a molestation of female and makes them vulnerable to violence and sexual assault, which could cost their lives. Commercial sex is an act of sex workers who generally engage in sexual activity for money, whereas prostitution is an act of individuals who engage in sexual activity in order to earn a living.
In many countries with normalized or standardized prostitution, officials believe that if other workers can work to earn a living and pay taxes, prostitutes should also work pay taxes. It is not clear if Rep. Briggs Mensah is also arguing that prostitutes should pay taxes as well.
Regardless of Rep. Briggs Mensah’s views, some citizens say the Representative should disengage with advocating for standardized prostitution and rather focus on proffering legislations that would improve the livelihoods of underprivileged girls.
The concerned Bong County citizens claimed they are aware that many commercial sex workers in Bong are disappointed in their condition, and they would be happy for opportunity to disengage from the act.
They lamented that some females take interest in promiscuous sexual relations as a result of trauma and poverty and that the provision of technical skills programs will curtail the high rate of prostitution. Observers say prostitution is not akin to female alone. They believe both men and women can be prostitute and argue that the emphasis on female is viewed globally is misogynistic
