Labor Ministry caution serious violations; Orders Local Job Postings
Monrovia, Liberia – The Ministry of Labor denied its applications for work permits for three foreign workers of Mansa Resources a firm hoping to acquire Liberia’s multimillion-dollar Dugbe. The ministry cites grave infractions of the nation’s employment regulations. The ministry declared that the business had violated Liberia’s labor laws and mandated that it post job openings locally before requesting permission to hire international employees.
The development raises new concerns about whether the company is abiding by Liberia’s labor laws and the employment obligations outlined in the project’s Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), as the company’s request for a Change of Control pertaining to the Dugbe Gold Project is still pending before the Government of Liberia.
According to official documents obtain from the Ministry of Labor, on June 18, 2026, Hummingbird Resources (Liberia) Inc., through Country Manager Roosevelt Forh, formally requested work permits for Jesse Jody Suat, a Papua New Guinean, for the role of Chief Surveyor; Warren George Baldwin, an Australian, for the role of Maintenance Superintendent; and Jason Joubert, a South African, for the role of Commercial Manager.
In accordance with Liberia’s Aliens and Nationality Law, the application was sent to Labour Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah Sr. The application stated that copies of the three foreign workers’ passports, residency permits, and supporting documentation had been included, and it asked for permission to hire them at Hummingbird Resources Liberia Inc.
The Ministry of Labor officially denied the applications on July 21, 2026, a little more than a month later. The Ministry notified Country Manager Roosevelt Forh in a letter signed by Acting Minister Othello P. Mansuo that the request had been turned down. “We regret to inform you that your application has been denied,” the ministry wrote.
The Ministry cited Standing Order No. 2, Regulation No. 19, and the requirement for more documentation in addition to explaining that the applications were rejected because the vacancies had not been advertised. The ministry particularly instructed the company to offer eligible Liberians a chance to apply for the jobs first. “For the purpose of encouraging competition among job seekers, you are hereby requested to advertise the aforementioned position(s) in at least two local daily newspapers for a period of 30 days,” the letter states.
The ministry also warned the company that foreign workers are not permitted to work in the country without a valid work permit. “The Decent Work Act of 2015 imposes penalties on violators, therefore your management is reminded that all foreign workers under your employment must have legitimate work permits.”
The company is also instructed to “Kindly advertise the above positions” by handwritten notes on the application, and the documents have official Ministry stamps that say “ALIEN WORK PERMIT DENIED.” The ministry’s ruling coincides with Mansa Resources’ request for official clearance to change control of the Dugbe Gold Project after acquiring Pasofino Gold.
The denial has raised concerns about the company’s compliance with all regulatory requirements prior to hiring foreign workers. According to sources with knowledge of the situation, more foreign workers have been hired or are being sent to Liberia for the project. By the time of writing, Mansa Resources had not replied to requests for comment, and this newspaper has not independently confirmed those assertions.
Credit: Frontpage Africa
