Accuses authorities of violating mineral legislation.
Monrovia, Liberia – High-ranking government officials, including lawmakers, have been accused by Minister of Mines and Energy Wilmot Paye of sabotaging Liberia’s mineral industry by participating in actions that are expressly forbidden by law.
Speaking on January 22, in Monrovia at the official inauguration of the project titled “Strengthening Inclusive Governance and Accountability in Liberia’s Natural Resources Sector,” Minister Paye exposed systematic abuses of mineral regulations, including the government officials’ purchase of mineral. The goal of the initiative, which is being carried out by Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL) with Irish Government financing, is to improve accountability and governance in the natural resources industry.
According to Minister Paye, the mining laws of Liberia prohibit the acquisition of mineral rights by public officials, including senators, representatives, ministers, superintendents, the president, and the vice president. He stressed, that the nation has suffered large financial losses as a result of years of disregard for this prohibition.
I, the Minister of Mines, am unable to even get a mineral right, something that many people including some in the public sector do not realize. Minister Paye said that although the president, vice president, senators, representatives, ministers, superintendents, and others are not entitled for that privilege, it has been occurring for years.
Despite not specifying details, the minister emphasized the negative effects of such infractions on the economy and urged compliance with mining regulations to optimize profits for development and governance.
Minister Paye criticized previous concession policies that transferred concessions without guaranteeing long-term gains for Liberia, allowing individuals to profit at the expense of the nation. President Joseph Boakai government is dedicated to changing this approach, he underlined, making sure that such changes are both practical and sustainable.
The regulatory body, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, is not even decentralized. According to Minister Paye, a lack of technical knowledge about mining operations has prevented many mining agents and inspectors from effectively monitoring and assessing mining operations.
The government is hiring 15 mining engineers to improve oversight in order to solve these issues. Despite possible harassment from illegal miners, Minister Paye urged the new recruits to maintain their courage and dedication to upholding the law.
The minister highlighted the long-standing problem of concessionaires holding idle assets, calling it a “disappointed story for Liberia,” particularly when concessions bring in millions of dollars while the national budget finds it difficult to cover essential development requirements.
Minister Paye emphasized the government’s duty to uphold international agreements safeguarding the mining industry while voicing alarm about the growing incidence of illegal mining in Liberia. He found a glaring difference between Sierra Leone’s and Liberia’s Class “A” license costs. Sierra Leone costs $1 million for the same term, whereas Liberia charges $50,000 for a 25-year concession, or $2,000 each year.
“Let’s say someone purchases a 25-year concession for $50,000. We are trying to shift this narrative because this is unacceptable,” he stated.
Minister Paye used the example of late 2024, when Liberia earned less than $700,000 in profits from gold mining that brought in almost $22 million from a single concession. Additionally, Minister Paye stated that the ministry is examining concession licenses, terminating those that are determined to be non-compliant, and implementing changes to enhance the industry. He emphasized the value of community involvement in promoting cooperation and successfully resolving complaints.
Minister Paye expressed gratitude to the governments of Sweden, Ireland, and the European Union (EU), among other foreign partners, for their assistance in bolstering the country’s natural resources industry. To secure the sector’s expansion and sustainability, he urged stakeholders, funders, and the government to work together.
Despite the reform processes stated by the minister, the main offices of the ministry in Monrovia have been give a new look with the provision of staff busses.
