Senator Nya D. Twayen of Nimba County has issued a strongly worded statement criticizing ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) for persistent and egregious violations of the amended 2007 Mineral Development Agreement (MDA). As the agreement nears expiration in 2030, the senator made clear that unless AML meets a series of urgent demands from the people of Nimba, he will oppose any efforts to renew the agreement.
Senator Twayen emphasized that for nearly two decades, the people living in the areas directly impacted by AML’s operations, particularly around Yekepa have experienced minimal benefit from the company’s presence. He denounced AML for failing to fulfill its promise to improve the socioeconomic conditions of affected communities. Despite AML’s public declarations of a $1.4 billion infrastructure expansion, residents of Yekepa continue to endure inadequate housing and basic services.
Housing in Yekepa remains in a state of severe disrepair. The senator noted that the once-thriving town has been reduced to ruins while the company extracts billions of dollars in ore. He characterized this neglect as a betrayal of the community’s expectations and a violation of the company’s social corporate responsibilities.
In terms of local employment and leadership, Senator Twayen accused AML of blatant disregard for Article 10 of the MDA amendment, which mandated increasing the participation of Liberians in senior management positions. By 2017, 50 percent of such positions were supposed to be held by Liberians. However, as of today, only 42 percent of these roles are filled by Liberians, with all three top executive positions—CEO, COO, and CFO—still occupied by foreigners. The senator named these executives as Michiel Vandermerwe of South Africa, Anthony P. Kocken of Australia, and Conor O’Brien of the United Kingdom, and emphasized that AML’s failure to appoint a Liberian to one of these roles is a violation of contract and national dignity.
He further alleged that foreign workers are being employed in roles for which qualified Liberians exist. These include positions such as Chief Information Officer, Chief Purchasing Officer, Security Risk Advisor, and Chief of Staff to the CEO. Senator Twayen also pointed out the absurdity of Liberians supervising foreign technicians in mid-level roles, questioning why these jobs were not awarded to Liberians in the first place.
The senator drew attention to another key violation of the agreement: AML’s failure to meet its scholarship funding obligations. Article 9 of the MDA required AML to provide $200,000 annually for advanced scholarships abroad for Liberian citizens starting from 2007. However, AML only began fulfilling this obligation in 2012, resulting in a shortfall of one million dollars. Despite some investment in vocational training, Twayen insisted that scholarship funding is a legal requirement, not an act of charity, and demanded full restitution.
He also raised doubts about the legitimacy of the company’s much-publicized $1.4 billion infrastructure investment. Describing the project as a “so-called” investment, Twayen said it is comprised mainly of prefabricated materials that could be dismantled and removed at any time, unlike permanent installations in other countries. He also challenged the reported cost, citing inside sources who estimate the plant cost at closer to $550 million. According to Twayen, this discrepancy suggests AML is overstating expenditures to evade taxes and dividends owed to Liberia.
Transfer pricing was identified as another significant issue. Senator Twayen accused AML of manipulating financial transactions among its related entities to minimize declared profits in Liberia, thereby avoiding dividend payments to the government. He described this practice as a core reason for Liberia’s lack of benefit from AML’s operations and called for immediate financial transparency and profit declaration.
In his recommendations, Senator Twayen urged the Government of Liberia and the Inter-Ministerial Concession Committee (IMCC) to take the concerns of the people of Nimba seriously. He insisted that any new MDA must include a legally binding requirement to pave the Sanniquellie-Yekepa road, an increase in the Social Development Fund for affected counties, a halt to the construction of container housing in favor of renovating existing homes in Yekepa, and an enforceable mandate for appointing a Liberian to one of the top three executive roles.
Additionally, he called for the payment of all arrears to the scholarship fund, with a demand for transparent management and disbursement of those funds. Quarterly progress audits of AML’s MDA compliance should be conducted and publicly reviewed by the Legislature and local communities. He also demanded the immediate abolition of transfer pricing practices and full, timely financial reporting.
Concluding his statement, Senator Twayen warned that the people of Nimba would no longer be placated by promises of flashy investments that fail to benefit Liberians. He affirmed his commitment to resist any renewal of the MDA unless AML fulfills all outlined conditions.
“To the people of Nimba and Liberia at large: We must not settle for less than we deserve,” he declared. “The next MDA must reflect the true aspirations of our people and hold AML accountable. If these demands are not met, we will lead the process of resisting any renewal of any kind with AML.”
