Monrovia, Liberia – Dr. Bonokai G. B. Gould, a prominent Liberian economist and professor at the University of Liberia, has harshly criticized the Liberian government for allegedly signing a significant concession deal with HPX-Ivanhoe Liberia in secret. He advises that the agreement violates constitutional procedures and compromises public oversight.
In a thorough analysis, Dr. Gould stated that Liberia’s democracy, economic fairness, and credibility are all seriously threatened by the HPX agreement’s lack of openness. “We are witnessing yet another concession being negotiated and purportedly signed behind closed doors. There has been an open violation of the principles of constitutional governance and public oversight if the Liberian government has signed this agreement with HPX without notifying the public or consulting the Legislature.”
Reports started to surface in July 2025 that the Liberian government signed a multi-million dollar concession deal with HPX-Ivanhoe, a Canadian-backed company involved in the mining and transportation industries in West Africa. The alleged agreement, which reportedly took place on a Sunday behind closed doors, involves vital national infrastructure, such as ports and railroads. No official announcement has been made through government channels, and the agreement has not yet been published.
Dr. Gould argued that backdoor transactions of this nature is exactly what has maintained Liberia’s cycle of underdevelopment and exploitation. “We’ve already seen this film at Sime Darby in 2009, and Firestone in 1926. Glossy documentation are used to make promises, while the Liberian people receive significantly less in reality.”
According to Liberia’s Constitution, the Legislature must examine and approve all concession deals, Dr. Gould pointed out. “You cannot expect legitimacy by violating Article 34. Any attempt to exclude civil society or the Legislature from national resource deal negotiations is not only unethical, but also unconstitutional.”
Dr. Gould cited the 1926 Firestone concession as an example of historical comparisons, offering the American rubber giant more than one million acres of land for a 99-year lease at a mere six cents per acre. “Firestone provided some infrastructure and jobs, but sovereignty was the cost. All of the economic benefit was exported, and the labor was exploitative. Our future was mortgaged in the arrangement.”
He stated that the 2009 Sime Darby agreement, which included 220,000 hectares in Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Gbarpolu, served as another evidence of the perils of making decisions from the top down. “The communities did not give their free, prior, and informed permission. Conventional farming was demolished. Environmental regulations were disregarded. And by 2019, the business had abandoned the area, leaving behind destroyed ecosystems and crushed expectations.”
Dr. Gould turned to HPX-Ivanhoe and voiced concern about the lack of available information. “What the administration has agreed upon is unknown to us. Has HPX been given authority over important rail passageways? Which fiscal terms apply? Are there safeguards for the environment? Where are the impacted communities’ protections?”
He underlined the need for comprehensive disclosure and strong public and parliamentary scrutiny of concession deals of this nature. “This goes beyond simple protocol. It is an issue of generational duty and national interest.”
Dr. Gould provided a number of specific suggestions to fix Liberia’s flawed concession procedure. Prior to being signed, all agreements, whether draft or final, must be publicized. Town hall consultations should be held by the government in the impacted districts. The media, civic society, and independent specialists must all be included in the pre-concession discourse period.
In addition, he demanded the establishment of a Legislative Concession Review Unit (LCRU) with impartial legal, financial, and environmental specialists on staff. The Legislature should begin analyzing instead of rubber-stamping. A community impact study, a budgetary impact statement, and nationwide public hearings are required for each concession.
Dr. Gould suggested creating a Joint Monitoring Task Force with alternating leadership from the Ministries of Mines, Agriculture, Labor, and Finance in order to solve post-signing issues and bolstering the National Bureau of Concessions (NBC). “Quarterly performance audits are necessary, with ratings that indicate whether businesses are fulfilling their obligations red for infractions, amber for delays, and green for success.”
Regarding local development, he emphasized that by the third year of operation, concessionaires have to be legally obligated to purchase at least 30% of their goods and services from Liberian-owned companies. “A local skills training plan and an industrial development roadmap must be submitted by each company,” he stated. “Only confirmed job creation and value addition should be the basis for tax incentives.”
Dr. Gould requested that Community Development Agreements (CDAs) be an essential component of all concessions and that Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) be enforced. “These CDAs should include dispute resolution procedures run by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and local leaders, as well as funding for roads, clinics, and schools.”
He suggested creating a nationwide Concession Transparency Portal, run by the General Auditing Commission or NBC, which would make contracts, audit results, and performance dashboards available to the public. In addition, he encouraged the establishment of a Civil Society Concession Watch Network and the provision of citizen monitoring tools such as mobile applications and hotlines.
“Access to information is essential for the populace. They must be able to expose wrongdoing and hold businesses and the government responsible,” he said.
Dr. Gould described the HPX case as a turning point for Liberia. It is not appropriate to handle this transaction as normal. It is a test of Liberia constitutional adherence, democratic commitment, and political maturity. “We risk losing not only our resources but the trust of our people if we continue down this path of secrecy. The moment has come for reform. There will be no more silence, no longer keeping secrets, Liberia deserves better.”
