By G. Watson Richards
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to protecting Liberia’s natural resources, emphasizing stricter oversight, transparency, and reforms in the mining sector.
Speaking at the opening of the third Cabinet Meeting of 2026, held under the theme “Positioning Liberia for Mineral-Led Development and National Prosperity: Governance, Growth, and Accountability in Liberia’s Mineral Sector”, the President stressed that safeguarding the country’s resources remains a top national priority.
“This Administration is committed to making sure that we protect the resources of our country,” President Boakai declared.
The Cabinet session focused on key reforms, including strengthening governance and legal frameworks in the mining sector, finalizing gold refinery regulations, updating exploration guidelines, and advancing a new mining law. Discussions also covered institutional reforms, including amendments to the Whistleblower Act and formalizing the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector.
President Boakai identified limited transparency as a major obstacle in managing Liberia’s mineral wealth, noting concerns about incomplete disclosures in resource extraction.
“Too often, we do not fully know what is being extracted. Companies may declare iron ore, but other valuable minerals could also be involved,” he cautioned.
He underscored the importance of investing in local capacity, particularly in fields such as geology, mining engineering, and resource management, to ensure effective monitoring and protection of national interests.
“We must build the expertise of our own people so we can properly track and manage what belongs to Liberia,” he said.
The President also challenged Cabinet members to evaluate how ordinary Liberians benefit from resource exploitation, raising concerns about environmental damage and limited community impact.
“As we examine resource exploitation, we must always ask: how are our people benefiting? Water pollution and environmental degradation remain serious issues,” Boakai stressed.
Reflecting on past agreements, he acknowledged that some mining concessions failed to secure adequate infrastructure development, limiting broader national gains.
“We must recognize the realities of agreements signed before us, but we cannot use them as excuses for inaction,” he stated.
While emphasizing continuity in governance, President Boakai made clear that his administration intends to improve existing systems.
“We’re not going to say this is how we met it and leave it that way. Government is continuity, but it must also deliver better results for the people,” he added.
He also pointed out the need to balance reform efforts with investor interests, noting that companies operate within agreements designed to ensure profitability.
Drawing on international best practices, the President urged policymakers to adopt more effective resource management strategies to maximize national benefits.
“We have an opportunity to learn from global examples and manage our resources in a way that truly benefits Liberia,” he said.
Addressing governance at the local level, President Boakai highlighted weaknesses in accountability and warned against illegal mining activities.
“At the local level, structures exist, but their effectiveness is limited. Some officials may even be involved in unauthorized mining,” he noted.
President Boakai further reaffirmed that ultimate responsibility lies with the central government to ensure proper stewardship of Liberia’s natural wealth.
“Liberia is blessed with abundant resources, and we will do everything within our power to manage them wisely for the good of all our people,” he concluded.
