Sinoe County Senator Crayton D. Duncan is once again embroiled in controversy over his alleged involvement with SinoForest International Corporation Liberia Incorporated, where he reportedly owns 12 percent of the company’s shares, according to incorporation documents obtained by Verity. SinoForest International is actively engaged in logging operations within Sinoe County, raising questions about the Senator’s compliance with Liberia’s 2000 New Minerals and Mining Law.
The law prohibits sitting lawmakers and other senior government officials—including Representatives, Senators, the President, Vice President, Supreme Court Justices, Judges, Cabinet Ministers, and Managing Directors—from participating in mining activities, mineral transactions, or concessional agreements. Chapter 4, Section 2(f) of the law mandates that individuals in such positions either divest from mining interests or place them in a blind trust upon assuming office.
This latest revelation follows a prior scandal involving Senator Duncan in September 2024. Reports indicated that he served as the legal representative in a mining agreement dated March 7, 2024, between Liberia Geneva Mining Incorporated and Ningbo Green Port International Trade Company Limited. The agreement, which also included Liberia’s Ambassador to China, D. Mckinley Thomas, as a witness, raised significant concerns about violations of the same statute.
The articles of incorporation for SinoForest International show an apparent conflict of interest for Senator Duncan. Furthermore, the agreement governing the company’s operations, signed between SinoForest and the People of Tartweh & Drapoh Community in Sinoe County, has been scrutinized. The Community Forest Management Body (CFMB), represented by Chief Officer Myers Kugmeh Padma, signed the agreement alongside SinoForest International’s General Manager, Annie Wang.
Critics argue that Senator Duncan’s involvement constitutes a blatant abuse of office and undermines the integrity of Liberia’s natural resource governance. Transparency advocates have expressed outrage, citing the need for lawmakers to set an example of accountability and adherence to the law.
“This is not just a legal violation—it’s a moral failure,” said a local governance advocate. “How can a sitting senator be expected to oversee Liberia’s natural resources when he is actively benefiting from them?”
The allegations against Senator Duncan highlight systemic issues in enforcing Liberia’s mining and logging regulations. Despite the explicit provisions of the 2000 New Minerals and Mining Law, instances of noncompliance by senior officials persist.
The public, particularly citizens of Sinoe County, are calling for immediate action from Liberia’s anti-corruption institutions, including the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the General Auditing Commission (GAC). If proven, these alleged violations could result in serious consequences for Senator Duncan and others implicated in facilitating these deals.
Meanwhile, logging experts argue that Liberia’s efforts to improve governance and ensure sustainable resource management hinge on cases like Senator Duncan’s, which serve as a litmus test for the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law. “For Senator Duncan, these allegations present a critical challenge to his credibility and the reputation of the office he holds,” said Amos Nagbe Weah, a Greenville, Sinoe County resident.
