By G. Watson Richards
Nimba County Senator Nya D. Twayen has raised concerns about how Liberia’s gold is handled before export, revealing that it is weighed abroad instead of in the country where it is mined.
Speaking at the Liberian Senate, Twayen questioned why gold produced by major mining companies is not measured locally prior to shipment.
He pointed specifically to the operations of Bea Mountain Mining Corporation, one of the country’s leading gold producers.
The senator said the practice raises serious questions about transparency and whether Liberia is getting the full value of its resources.
According to him, weighing gold outside the country creates room for doubt about accuracy and weakens government oversight.
He maintained that carrying out the process within Liberia would improve accountability and give authorities better control over the sector.
“As the lead campaigner on concession compliance at the Senate, I said it before, why can’t we weigh the gold from Bea Mountain in Liberia rather than in London?” Twayen said.
“The answer I got was nonsense, and I don’t wish to bore you with me telling,” he added.
His comments have stirred discussion among stakeholders about how Liberia manages its natural resources.
Some observers believe the issue reflects long-standing gaps in monitoring and regulation within the mining sector.
Mining remains one of the country’s main sources of revenue, especially through gold and iron ore exports.
But concerns about compliance and revenue tracking continue to surface.
There are growing calls for systems that ensure resources are properly accounted for before leaving the country.
So far, the government has not publicly responded to the concerns raised.
The issue is likely to attract further attention both in the Legislature and among groups pushing for greater transparency in the sector.
