This paper has uncovered a leaked document, revealing how a syndicate of crooked mining companies has been criminally milking Liberia’s mineral resources through dubious deals and mining transactions engineered by Hamak Gold Limited and 79 Resources Incorporated under the supervision of its Executive Chairman, Mr. Amara Kamara.
The damning leak compiled and reported by a Special Investigative Committee (SIC) has unveiled a shell network of alleged mining fraud, collusion, and corruption, further exposing the damaging extent to which Liberia’s natural resources are being mismanaged and siphoned by a few powerful, highly connected, and corrupt fellows.
Hamak’s License and Lies:
The report claims that Hamak Gold Limited has not been able to systematic explore with its Nimba gold license as required, yet it collects unearned dues and rakes profits from its mining accomplices dubiously operating. “Despite the rich geological promise and visible artisanal mining activities within the license zone, Hamak has failed to conduct systematic exploration as mandated by law.”
The report detailed that the company’s license expired, but Hamak never formally has since refused to renew, which is in gross violation of the Mineral law and a fundamental infraction to international standards. The report claimed that the company is brazenly claiming a “special extension” from the past administration of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, a claim that has no legal basis and is yet to be based findings from the SIC report.
The leaked report went further by indicting Hamak for owing the Liberian government over US$400,000 in unpaid mining fees and other outstanding financial obligations. This liability owed by Hamak has further exposed its ‘crooked’ reputation of corporate noncompliance; thereby denying government of its lawful and needed revenues.
From Hamak to 79 Resources Incorporated – Name has changed?
Amid this leaked report and facing mounting scrutiny including expired licensure, collusion, unpaid debt and deception, Hamak has suddenly changed to 79 Resources Incorporated, raising concerns of mining duplicity and conspiracy to hide from accountability, scrutiny, and possible criminal investigation.
According to the report, 79 Resources Incorporated, a company that has submitted its application for exploration license carries the same skeletons of Hamak in its closet. The application was submitted to operate in the same mining zone as Hamak’s license. This attempted trick was an illegal act intended to detour established regulatory framework and maintain a ‘dubious’ hold on the valuable license area. According to the report, the current administration of the Ministry of Mines confirmed that such attempt is a criminal offence under Liberian law, an act identical to mining fraud and one that demands immediate cancellation of any remaining rights.
“79 Resources submitted confusing and contradictory banking documents, two different account numbers listed on the Ecobank letter, further deepening the suspicion of malfeasance. And to add insult to injury, 79 Resources is fully owned by the debt-ridden Hamak,” the report stated.
Partner in Crime: North-Western Mining
The network of corrupt mining companies, Hamak – 79 Resources Incorporated – and North Western, stand widely accused of engaging in significant natural resource corruption and illegal mining activities in Liberia. North Western Mining, a supposed competitor, is also implicated in cloudy deals, including:
- Having in its possession two different Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) used in official documents, which is a flagrant violation of legal standards.
- Though North Western Mining submitted the application, the payment was made by a different entity, North Western Investment, using yet another TIN.
- They applied for the license only after 79 Resources, raising serious questions about the integrity of the application process.
A Spoils System and Past Government Complicity:
The leaked report said, “Shockingly, the Assistant Minister for Mineral Exploration and Environmental Research in the precious government, who was also Acting Deputy Minister for Operations, approved payment invoices for the same license area to two different companies. This glaring administrative blunder, or worse, deliberate collusion has paved the way for double invoicing and corruption that strips Liberia of much-needed revenue.”
Where does Liberia stand in all this?
The report claimed that the Nimba license area is technically open and unclaimed due to expired licenses and a lack of valid documentation. Further, it asserted that Hamak’s and 79 Resources Inc.’s failure to prove legal rights opens the door for new, legitimate competitors.
“The blatant fraud and name-change trick is a criminal act, demanding urgent legal action and license revocation. This scandal exposes the rot in Liberia’s mining sector, a system where powerful elites exploit loopholes and bend rules to steal from the state and its people.”
Calls for the Liberian government to act:
Amid mounting calls across Liberia for the government to crack down on illicit mining activities and revoke the licenses of dubious companies, the leaked report emphasized the firmness to revoke all fraudulent licenses held by Hamak, 79 Resources, and other complicit companies including North-Western Mining.
The report called on the government to consider a laundry list of recommendations including, “Launch a full criminal investigation into Amara Kamara and his associates. Strengthen mining governance and transparency to prevent further theft of Liberia’s mineral wealth. Empower legitimate mining companies and communities that respect the law and the environment,” while emphasizing the urgency to fully investigate and prosecute Hamak’s CEO Amara Kamara and his mining accomplices, who are at the center of this grave scandal.
