Gbarpa, Nimba County – In the town of Gbarpa, Nimba County, Kou Miapeh Gono, the county’s superintendent, hosted an elegant town hall meeting late Thursday night. In order to address the future of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s (AML) activities in that region, the meeting brought together community people, youth organizations, and local stakeholders.
The recent decision by chiefs, elders, and residents of the impacted villages to request an extension of AML’s stay in Liberia from the government was recognized by Superintendent Gono. She stated, “This is not a bad thing. However, the people of Nimba need to come to the table, and that is why I am here. I want to sit with the stakeholders, the young people, and all of you to see how we can engage ArcelorMittal and the government so that things can be done the way we all want them to be done.”
She emphasized the importance of job creation, a major concern for Nimba citizens. “We talk about jobs it’s a big thing, and we need these jobs created every time,” she stated. However, she also noted the challenge of competition, given AML’s status as Liberia’s largest concessionaire. “AML is the biggest concession company in the country, so people who want jobs come from all over Liberia. But our young people here need jobs too.”
In order to set expectations and make sure that community needs are fulfilled, Superintendent Gono told the group that she has been in communication with AML’s CEO and the top management. “I have made an effort to have a good conversation with the CEO and top management about what our people expect,” she said, acknowledging that things have not always been perfect in the past.
In addition to calling for AML’s growth, she emphasized that the endorsement statement read by the impacted villages weeks earlier was a community-driven appeal to the government and its leaders, outlining what the firm needs to do to satisfy the locals.
Superintendent Gono pledged to visit affected communities, consult with towns and villages, engage the Nimba Legislative Caucus, and gather diverse opinions before submitting them to the national government. She emphasized the importance of unity in negotiations. “The possibility to extend their operation is huge because it is not only with us; it is with the central government. That is why people in the affected communities need to sit together and make it clear that they are not against the company, but that they want the right thing to happen.”
Chiefs, elders, and residents of Yarmein, Zor, and Seh openly endorsed the ratification of AML’s Third Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) and the growth of its activities on March 18, 2025. Citing AML’s aid during national crises like the COVID-19 and Ebola epidemics, employment creation, and support for social infrastructure, they recognized the organization’s contributions to Liberia’s socioeconomic growth.
Community leaders that supported AML’s growth underlined the need for educational and training reforms by expanding vocational training facilities beyond the Yekepa Vocational Training Center’s current offerings. In order to increase local employment, they also demanded that 25% of skilled positions and 50% of unskilled jobs be reserved for Nimba people, as well as initiatives to support local business growth and entrepreneurship.
Concerns regarding the water supply were also raised, and recommendations were made for more robust measures to reduce the effects of mining operations and avoid contamination. Another major demand was for community development, with leaders pushing for the extension of communal water supply systems and better infrastructure in Yekepa.
The leaders also emphasized the significance of accountability and transparency, they called for community members to be part of an impartial MDA compliance monitoring committee that would supervise the agreement’s execution. They asked the Liberian government to back AML’s growth while making sure the revised MDA takes these community concerns into account. They underlined how important it is to solve these problems if their communities are to have long-term peace and development.
Following their endorsement, Grand Bassa and Bong counties have also endorsed. With Superintendent Gono’s commitment to ongoing consultations and negotiations, the people of Nimba County are poised to play a more active role in shaping the next phase of AML’s operations in Liberia.
The town hall meeting was an important step in making sure the community’s opinions are heard and that the company’s future interactions with them satisfy their expectations.
