Residents of Gbaken Karluway Statutory District in Maryland County have expressed no confidence in Duke Gold Investment Limited, a Chinese-owned gold mining company operating in the area, and are calling on relevant authorities to revisit the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing the company’s operations.
Community members say similar concerns were previously raised against Soar Mining Company, which they claim failed to fulfill its commitments before vacating the area.
Duke Gold Investment Limited later took over the site, promising to improve living standards beyond what existed under the former operator.
However, several months after operations commenced, residents say they became aware of allegations linking the Chinese mining firm to illicit mining activities in Maryland County.
Although the company has denied these allegations, public outcry continues to grow over its legitimacy and benefits to host communities.
According to residents, discussions with Duke Gold were based on a verbal MOU, which included commitments to complete an elementary school project started by Soar Mining Company, pay three volunteer teachers, pave roads leading to the town, provide monthly community dues, and install hand pumps, among other benefits.
Speaking in an interview, Chief Elder and High Priest Isaac T. Seeblee of Gbaken disclosed that no formal agreement has been signed and that the company has failed to honor its promises.
He further noted that access to the mining site remains difficult, as company workers reportedly live in temporary camps deep in the forest near the operational area. This situation, residents say, has often forced them to negotiate directly with miners in order to obtain minimal benefits from their natural resources.
Residents also revealed that on several occasions, Chinese operators apologized for violating community traditions, prompting negotiations aimed at establishing a social contract. One such negotiation reportedly included demands for 100,000 Liberian Dollars monthly and US$1,500 every three months as surface rental fees. However, residents say the agreement was neither finalized nor respected.
Despite the uncertainty, residents say they remain hopeful that once a formal agreement is reached, they will begin to benefit from their resources. For now, they insist the company’s presence has brought no meaningful development to the town.
“As we speak, day and night, new Chinese nationals are coming in and out. We don’t know whether they are coming with government papers or not, but we believe our own people are the problem,” one resident said.
The New Dawn also observed during interactions with the company’s Liberian management that Police Support Unit (PSU) officers of the Liberia National Police were assigned to the mining area.
Chief Elder Seeblee explained that two local miners were initially operating in a clan area later occupied by Soar Mining Company. He said officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy later instructed Soar Mining to vacate the site, claiming it had been exclusively allocated to Duke Global Investment Limited.
“We halted Duke Global’s operations, and they came to apologize. During that process, they asked the town for permission to operate, which we granted with conditions that they should provide benefits. Up to now, those promises have not been fulfilled,” Seeblee said.
He expressed concern that despite repeated assurances—including road rehabilitation, hand pumps, school construction, and other social benefits—the community has yet to see any tangible results.
“Our land is blessed with resources, yet we are not benefiting. Companies say they are sent by the government or our lawmakers. We don’t want to fight the government, so we allow them, but we gain nothing in return,” he lamented.
Speaking on behalf of the company, Liberian Manager Opah Robertson said Duke Global Investment Limited has not yet obtained additional permits, including approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), because it has not commenced full-scale mining.
According to Robertson, the company has only been engaged in prospection since November 2024, and all required documents will be secured once that phase is completed.
“It is unfortunate that we have been here for months without beginning normal operations due to pressure from the town and county authorities,” Robertson said.
