Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – The Committee on Investment and Concessions of the Liberian Senate has established a three-year strategic partnership with Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL) to improve legislative scrutiny of concession agreements through independent technical, research, and advisory support. The aim is to strengthen accountability in Liberia’s lucrative concession sector.
Signed on Thursday, July 16, at the Capitol Building, the memorandum of understanding (MoU) is anticipated to strengthen the Committee’s ability to examine concession agreements, oversee adherence to contractual duties, and guarantee that investment agreements in important industries, such as mining, forestry, agriculture, and infrastructure, promote Liberia’s national development agenda.
The agreement is made in response to public calls for increased scrutiny and transparency of the concession agreements that control the nation’s natural resources. Harold Aidoo, Executive Director of Integrity Watch Liberia, spoke at the signing event on Thursday, July 16, 2026, and characterized the cooperation as an important step toward improving legislative oversight and encouraging responsible investment.
“The purpose of this MoU is to establish a structured collaboration framework through which Integrity Watch Liberia will provide technical, research and advisory support to the Senate Committee on Investment and Concessions to strengthen its oversight responsibilities over concession agreements and investment-related matters,” Aidoo said.
He stressed that in order for lawmakers to properly review concession agreements, track compliance, and establish whether such agreements align with national laws and development priorities, they must have prompt access to technical expertise, policy analysis, and independent research.
In accordance with the agreement, Integrity Watch Liberia will carry out technical evaluations of concession agreements; draft policy briefs and advisory memoranda; find flaws in fiscal provisions, environmental protections, community benefit obligations, local content requirements, and compliance mechanisms; and facilitate stakeholder engagement with government agencies, concessionaires, impacted communities, and civil society organizations.
In addition, the organization will support legislative oversight visits when funding permits, plan capacity-building programs for Committee members and staff, and guarantee that all technical advice is impartial, independent, and grounded in evidence.
In exchange, the Senate Committee pledged to spearhead legislative oversight of concession agreements, identify areas in need of technical assistance, make relevant legislative documents available, encourage staff and members to take part in training activities, and promote transparency throughout its oversight procedures.
The agreement, which is valid for three years and may be renewed by mutual consent, called for both institutions to review the partnership’s implementation on a regular basis. Aidoo commended the Senate leadership for supporting the proposal, characterizing it as a significant improvement in openness, governance, and public trust in Liberia’s natural resource management.
Sen. Numene T. H. Bartekwa of Grand Kru County, the chairman of the committee, praised the collaboration, pointing out that Integrity Watch Liberia has continuously helped the committee by providing logistical support for legislative workshops and retreats as well as capacity-building programs.
He said that the Senate leadership, including the president pro tempore, fully supports the arrangement. “I am pleased to inform you that the partnership has received full endorsement from the president pro tempore and the Senate leadership. We are very happy for this bold step because many legislative instruments are before us, and this agreement will help ensure that we are well trained to scrutinize them properly,” Bartekwa said.
The senator urged international development partners to keep offering technical assistance so that parliamentarians can efficiently examine intricate concession agreements and other legislative tools in the Liberian people’s best interests.
