YEKEPA, Nimba County – ArcelorMittal Liberia’s (AML) long-term goal of transforming Yekepa into a modern, well-planned community that would benefit present and future generations is threatened by unapproved constructions. AML encouraged Yekepa Town Council members to double up their efforts to prevent and report illegal construction in the municipality.
Members of the Yekepa Town Council and AML’s Community Relations Section of the Department of Sustainability and External Relations met on July 9, 2026, during which the appeal was made. The engagement, which was attended by twelve council members, addressed a variety of township-related issues, such as the increasing number of illicit construction projects in Yekepa, a review of the council’s monthly report, and the Town Council office building’s completion status.
Member of Yekepa Township in a meeting with AML Community Relations Department Team
Hilton Gortor, the Community Relations Officer, raised concerns during the meeting regarding rumours that some Town Council members were reportedly involved in giving property to people building unapproved structures within the concession. Gortor alleged that AML has received multiple complaints from locals claiming that certain council members, such as Town Council Chairman Moses Guannu, have given housing spaces to people engaged in illicit building.
He said such allegations, whether true or false, continue to create unnecessary reputational challenges for the company and undermine collaborative efforts to properly manage the township. “We continue to receive reports from residents that some members of the council are allocating land to people to build illegally. These reports damage the company’s reputation and undermine the trust we are working hard to build with the community,” Gortor said.
He reminded the council that ArcelorMittal Liberia retains the legal right to remove any structure erected without authorization within the concession area and urged council members to educate residents against constructing illegal buildings. “The company reserves the right to demolish any building that is erected illegally within the concession. We encourage council members to help educate squatters and residents so they do not put themselves in a position where they may eventually lose their investments,” he added.
Gortor further stated that if allegations that council members were facilitating illegal construction prove to be true, such actions would represent a serious breach of the partnership between the Town Council and ArcelorMittal Liberia. “It would be a disservice to the company that the council works alongside. We expect honesty, transparency, and collaboration in protecting the integrity of Yekepa’s development,” he noted.
However, council members alleged that promises made by certain politicians to residents that AML was not serious about making more improvements to Yekepa Township had contributed to the rise in unlawful construction. Additionally, they revealed that despite the Town Council’s repeated warnings, certain ArcelorMittal Liberia employees had allegedly taken part in unapproved building.
Council members noted that the council’s power has been undermined by the alleged political support, making it more challenging to stop locals from constructing without permission. “We advise people, but many no longer respect the authority of the Town Council because they believe they have political backing,” one council member said during the discussion.
The council appealed to AML to provide an official policy document governing township management that could be presented to residents engaged in illegal construction. Members said having a formal company policy would strengthen their efforts to stop unauthorized development and demonstrate that the council’s actions are supported by established regulations rather than personal decisions.
Responding to the request, Community Relations Manager Vaanii Kiazolu and Community Relations Officer Hilton Gortor provided the council with relevant sections of the policy governing township management and encouraged members to immediately report any new illegal construction activities to AML. Mr. Kiazolu also committed to escalating concerns surrounding the outstanding works on the town council office building to facilitate its timely completion.
AML underlined that preventing illegal construction is not merely about implementing concession regulations; it is crucial to defending the company’s long-term strategy for the reconstruction of Yekepa. Under its long-term development goals, ArcelorMittal Liberia said it intends to construct a modern New Yekepa Township that will provide improved housing, better roads, reliable drainage systems, expanded public utilities, recreational facilities, and other essential social infrastructure that meet modern urban planning standards.
The projected township is expected to significantly improve living conditions for employees and residents while providing a safer, more organized, and environmentally sustainable community capable of supporting Liberia’s growing mining industry. Officials from the company emphasized that rigorous adherence to approved development patterns and appropriate land-use planning are necessary to accomplish this objective.
Unauthorized construction complicates engineering plans, raises project costs, delays implementation, and may eventually require the removal of structures constructed in prohibited areas, they said. Every illegal building built today, according to AML, has the potential to obstruct public services, utility corridors, road alignments, drainage systems, and future residential constructions meant to benefit the larger community.
As a result, the company advised locals to refrain from making investments in unapproved buildings that might be destroyed once the township master plan is put into action. Homeowners were asked to cooperate with the town council and AML to ensure that future construction follows authorized planning principles that will benefit everyone.
The cooperation of all stakeholders, including community leaders, residents, employees, and government authorities, is essential to the New Yekepa development’s success, according to company officials. They stressed that delaying or opposing the project through illegal building ultimately damages the very communities that stand to benefit from improved infrastructure, expanded economic possibilities, better public services, and a modern township designed to meet international standards.
Mr. Gortor reminded council members of the importance of submitting their monthly reports to the Community Relations Office in a timely manner, noting that failure to do so could result in the suspension of the monthly operational benefits provided to the Town Council. With the goal to protect Yekepa’s future and make sure that the township’s renovation progresses in a way that provides long-term advantages for both current and future generations, he urged the council to maintain strong collaboration with ArcelorMittal Liberia.
