MONROVIA – More than one year following the severe incident of destruction at the Joint Chambers of the Liberia Legislature, Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon and Deputy Speaker Thomas P. Fallah jointly toured the destroyed segment and expressed disappointment over the condition.  

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway  

During the tour, Deputy Speaker Fallah, specifically, expressed profound sorrow over the state of the facility, noting that rebuilding the heavily damaged structure will demand significant financial resources and extensive construction work.

The tour comes ahead of a multi-stage damage assessment that will involve both government estimators led by the Ministry of Public Works and international experts.

While financing remains a concern, both leaders confirmed there is no plan of taking out loans to fund the necessary repairs.

Uncertainty Hangs Over Renovation Process

Addressing inquiry from Legislative reporters during the tour, Speaker Koon provided a response that somewhat dashes all hope and expectations that the renovation process is far from happening.  

Speaker Koon tells the public that in the first place there is no money now neither had any money being budgeted towards this projected which is estimated around US$10M.

He pointed out that the shutdown of the Joint Chambers continues to undermine and impair the function of the Legislature, especially during the SONA [State of the Nation Address].

“It depends on how soon the estimate can be given to us, so we can commence. We don’t have money budgeted, but we are not going to take a loan for this place, because this place is undermining our work and impairing the function of the Legislature, especially during the SONA – the State of the Nation Address. We have to find other places and secure them to have the President’s address,” Speaker Koon intoned.

Sad Moment

In remarks, Deputy Speaker Fallah described the destruction as a “sad,” “embarrassing,” and “frustrating” and warning that the building will have to be rebuilt from scratch.

Deputy Speaker Fallah, who has been at the Capitol for the past 18 to 20 years, asserted that it was his first time entering the building since the incident.

“This is a sad moment, very sad. Today is my very first time honestly entering this place to see the level of destruction that took place. I feel so sad as a national leader, as a statesperson, to have known how this place was in the past and to see it like this today,” he stated.

US$10 Million to Rebuild

The Deputy Speaker estimated that restoring the building to the standard required would cost at least $10 million.

“I am not a technician, I am not an engineer, but I know I have been involved in construction. To see something like this tells me that to bring it to the standard we need will cost us nothing less than US$10 million. We are constructing from scratch, because it is not secure, so you have to do a lot of work,” he asserted.

Though the cause of the incident is yet to be established, but the Lofa County Electoral District #1 Representative stressed that destruction of public property must never happen, whatever the political disagreement.

“There should be no point in time when we destroy state property or facilities that belong to the state, even private property. That should not be the case.”

“The Legislature is the theatre of disagreement. We all come from different political persuasions, different political backgrounds, but we should never resort to destruction,” Deputy Speaker Fallah, among other things, indicated.

Capitol Building, Monrovia– Gathered in huge numbers early Tuesday before regular sittings of both chambers of the Liberian Legislature, a group of business owners and importers decried frustration in doing business in Liberia.

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

The business owners, predominately women, under the banner China Business Women United with One Voice and the Consortium of Liberia Importers, presented urgent petition to both chambers of the Legislature to demand urgent intervention over severe shipping delays and mounting port bottlenecks.

Similar petition was also presented to the National Port Authority (NPA), as the group, dressed in dominant white, proceeded to the “Gateway of the nation’s economy.”

Timeline And Unfair Fees

Reading the petition on behalf of the business community, advocate Sriya Musu Momolu warned that prolonged shipping timelines and unfair fees have pushed and continues to push local enterprises to the brink of total collapse.

In their petition, the consortium stressed that cargo shipments originating from Asia, specifically China, now take six to seven months to reach the Freeport of Monrovia.

“We, the China Business Women United With One Voice/Consortium Of Liberia Importers and commercial stakeholders of Liberia, submit this urgent petition with deep frustration over the catastrophic delays in receiving imported cargo particularly shipments originating from Asia and China-and the extreme operational bottlenecks caused by major shipping lines, most especially Mask Line,” reads the petition.

The Risk That Comes Along

With the heavy reliance of loans from commercial banks, they fear that their personal homes and properties might be lost due to the increasing interest rate caused by delays.

The pointed out that the extended transit timelines severely continue to hinder their ability to service debts or turn over capital.

Momolu emphasized that businesses are collapsing, investments are trapped, and families are suffering under the weight of the current crisis.

Arbitrary Expiration of Delivery Orders (DOS)

Due to systemic bottlenecks at port clearance and delays caused by major shipping lines like Mask Line, the petitioners alarmed that Delivery Orders (DOS) arbitrarily gets expired before cargo can be retrieved.

“Business owners are then forced to pay costly renewal fees, administrative surcharges, and penalizing demurrage and detention fees for delays completely beyond their control. Enough is enough; this must stop,” the petition furthers.

This, according to them, they (business owners) are being forced to pay costly renewal fees, administrative surcharges, and penalizing demurrage charges for delays entirely beyond their control.

Double Taxation & Financial Distress

While ther capital remains trapped at sea or stuck at the port, the cried out that loan interest continues to accumulate, while at the same time expected to meet quarterly tax obligations to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), pay office rents, and settle employee salaries.

Liberians Pushed Out Of Business

The petitioners also lamented how local entrepreneurs are being pushed out of business by foreign traders who bypass regulatory frameworks to retail directly in domestic markets.

The way forward

To prevent widespread business closures and economic destabilization, the consortium outlined six-count demand for government action.

Outlined in their counts/demands, the business operators called for a formal legislative inquiry into major shipping lines regarding transit delays and surcharge structures.

They also want a government mandate that compels shipping lines and port terminal operators to waive re-issuance fees and demurrage charges on expired Delivery Orders.

The group is also seeking mandatory arrival timelines for maritime carriers, streamlined container clearance at the Freeport of Monrovia to eliminate bureaucratic red tape, strict enforcement of the Liberianization Policy to protect local small and medium-sized enterprises from unfair foreign retail competition, and the establishment of long term national logistics policies.

Among other things, the group requested an immediate formal audience with the leadership of the Liberian Senate, the House of Representatives, and the management of the National Port Authority to present their grievances and secure actionable solutions.

Commitment From Chairman On Claims And Petition, Rep. Toles

Receiving the petition on behalf of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the House Committee on Claims and Petition, Montserrado County Electoral District #8 Representative, Prince Toles committed to bringing the women’s grievances before his legislative colleagues for prompt redress.

Rep. Toles, a lawmaker, who comes from the business sector, stated that the issues raised by the business community are deeply concerning to all stakeholders, making swift legislative and administrative intervention critical.

House Holds Emergency Session On Plight On Business Community

On the heel of the latest petition and issues already raised before the House appertaining the delays, huge taxes paid on goods and services at the National Port Authority, Plenary voted to summon key stakeholders in the country’s port management to a specialized hearing scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026.

The hearing is intended to address growing concerns raised by the protesting businesswomen over alleged excessive port charges and prolonged shipping delays, which they say are severely affecting their businesses.

Among those summoned are the Freeport of Monrovia, the National Port Authority (NPA), the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, and the Liberia Business Association (LIBA), Medtech Scientific Limited — the company contracted by Government of Liberia (GoL) to handle Pre-shipment Inspection and Destination Inspection and Cargo Tracking Note (CTN), alongside other key stakeholders in the port sector.

During the protest, the women accused port operators, particularly APM Terminals and GTMS, of imposing unreasonable charges and contributing to lengthy delays in the clearance and delivery of goods.

They warned that the alleged practices are placing significant financial pressure on their businesses, threatening their operations and livelihoods.

The November 6 hearing is expected to provide lawmakers an opportunity to engage port authorities, operators, and business representatives on the complaints and seek possible solutions to the challenges confronting the business community.

Monrovia – The World Bank has released a report that detailed how mining-led growth is not creating enough jobs, and that the country is wallowing into extreme poverty

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

The Bank says Liberia’s economy is growing faster, but most citizens are not feeling the benefits, stating that extreme poverty has edged up even as national output expands.

At the launch of the seventh Liberia Economic Update, World Bank Country Manager Georgia Wallen described this as the “paradox at the heart of this report”: the economy is growing, yet more people are struggling to meet basic needs.

Delivering the report, she began with the good news: Real GDP growth rose to an estimated 5.1 percent in 2025, up from 4 percent the year before. Inflation was contained, and the fiscal deficit narrowed to 2.1 percent of GDP.

Madam Wallen credited the government’s and the Central Bank’s “disciplined macroeconomic management,” which she said “deserves recognition.”

The economy has also held up against external shocks. Conflict and disruptions at maritime choke points have unsettled global energy markets and pushed up fuel prices, affecting import-dependent countries like Liberia in early 2026.

Policymakers, she noted, are moving swiftly to contain the risks while maintaining prudent policies.

Even so, extreme poverty is estimated to have climbed from 34.6 percent to 36.1 percent over the past two years. Wallen said this reflects the nature of recent growth, which has come largely from mining, a capital-intensive sector that generates few jobs and offers limited opportunities for local businesses.

According to the report, agriculture, manufacturing and small-scale services, where most Liberians earn their living, have lagged. It states that about 78 percent of workers are in vulnerable informal employment, while nine in ten firms are small or micro enterprises.

“What will it take?” Wallen asked, pointing to farmers facing high transport costs, traders running generators because electricity is unreliable, and entrepreneurs struggling with taxes.

This edition focuses on state-owned enterprises (SOEs), which provide electricity, water, port and fuel services. These services shape business costs and determine whether households have light at night. They also carry significant fiscal risks for the national budget.

The report finds that policymakers cannot see the full portfolio. Many entities do not submit financial reports, while most existing audits are delayed. Wallen called the creation of the State-Owned Enterprises Authority of Liberia (SEAL) “a significant and positive step.”

SOEs alone do not explain the jobs challenge, she indicated, but better information and accountability are practical starting points. Most recommended steps can be taken under existing law.

The report also highlights two trade-offs. The government achieved fiscal consolidation partly by cutting capital spending, which fell from 8.5 percent of GDP. The World Bank Country Chief warned that this approach has limits, since roads, electricity and other infrastructure are essential to Liberia’s growth.

And with iron ore and rubber accounting for more than 90 percent of exports, public finances remain exposed whenever global prices weaken.

Macroeconomic stability is the central foundation, she furthered, and “now is the time to use that foundation to take off.”

The choices ahead, she asserted, concern the quality of public investment, services and information as much as the quantity of growth. Government cannot do it alone; the private sector, civil society and development partners all have a role.

Presenting Chapter Two, “Beyond Growth: Addressing Structural Constraints to Job-Rich Growth in Liberia,” World Bank Senior Public Sector Specialist Bonnie Ann Siroris reveals that the government lacks the reliable information needed to assess SOE performance, fiscal exposure and value for money.

“Oversight covers less than half of the operational portfolio. Over six years, financial information was submitted for only 83 of 276 potential entity-years, while 25 of the 46 entities operating through 2025 never submitted a single return. Reporting standards also vary.”

Although the PFM Act requires International Financial Reporting Standards, entities use a mix of IFRS, public sector standards and U.S. GAAP, while some have no defined accounting basis. That, Siroris told the gathering, can make aggregated figures “very misleading.”

Audits tell a similar story. Seventeen operational entities have completed at least one audit since FY19, and 29 more are underway. Only four audits across all SOEs received unqualified opinions, while all 10 available compliance audits were adverse. Where figures could be compared, 40 percent differed by more than 5 percent between audit reports and Bureau of State Enterprises or SEAL data. The General Auditing Commission has pledged to clear its backlog by June 2028.

The SEAL Act was signed in February 2026, and the former Bureau of State Enterprises is transitioning into the new body.

But oversight is only part of the solution, Siroris noted, because boards must also fulfill their responsibilities.

A 2023 sample showed uneven attendance, and there is no portfolio-wide data on directors’ qualifications, interests or compensation. She recommended a director register, conflict-of-interest declarations, board induction and basic governance records.

The 19 reporting entities show an adjusted surplus of about $28 million for FY24, but three account for roughly $47.4 million of that total. The other 16 posted a combined deficit of about $19.4 million. The largest surplus, at NASSCORP’s core, reflects pension and investment accumulation, not distributable profit.

Those results include $15.1 million in government subsidies and $16.7 million in grants from development partners. Without them, the portfolio would record a loss of about $2.7 million.

At the end of 2025, the 19 entities reported about $815.4 million in liabilities. SOE loans on-lent or guaranteed by the government stood at about $423.3 million, with the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) accounting for roughly 77 percent. Even these figures are incomplete, as there is no reconciled account of arrears, unpaid government bills, supplier claims or court judgments.

LEC’s own revenue rose substantially between FY22 and FY24, but its earnings were positive only when grant income was included, much of it non-cash. It received adverse audit opinions through FY23 and is owed about $34 million, roughly $30.8 million of which is owed by government bodies.

Siroris cautioned against interpreting a subsidy as evidence of poor performance, since it may finance a legitimate public service obligation.

By the end of FY27, the report calls for classifying the portfolio, creating verified entity and director registers, introducing a common reporting template and directing audit resources to the five highest-risk entities. By June 2028, it wants the government’s full fiscal relationship with LEC, the National Port Authority and the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company reconciled.

“Stronger SOE governance will not automatically reduce electricity costs, improve services, or create jobs,” Siroris said. Instead, it creates the conditions to identify underperformance, diagnose its causes, assign corrective action and track results.

The real task, she said, is not whether every SOE turns a profit, but whether the government, the legislature and the public can determine what each entity costs, delivers and risks, and whether the portfolio offers value for money.

MONROVIA, November 2, 2026 Liberia – The Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) has announced plans to launch a joint migrant profiling and biometric registration exercise targeting undocumented migrants, particularly nationals of Burkina Faso residing in four southeastern counties.

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

Addressing a news conference Monday, LRRRC Executive Director Jerror Cole Bangalu stated that the exercise will officially begin with a launch ceremony on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in Zleh Town, Grand Gedeh County. The registration process is scheduled to run from November 5 through December 31, 2026.

He pointed out that the exercise is being conducted in fulfillment of a presidential mandate issued by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, directing the LRRRC, the National Identification Registry (NIR), and the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) to work together to address the growing challenge of undocumented migrant populations in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, and Maryland Counties.

“This is a presidential mandate that requires urgent, coordinated, and effective implementation,” Cllr. emphasized.

Under the arrangement, the NIR will provide the technical infrastructure and biometric identification expertise to ensure that every eligible migrant registered receives a unique identity and is enrolled in Liberia’s National Biometric Identification System.

The LIS will provide technical support on immigration-related matters, while the LRRRC will coordinate the profiling and documentation process in accordance with its statutory mandate.

To facilitate the exercise and ensure accessibility, the joint team has identified designated profiling centers across the four counties.

In Nimba County, the centers are Old Yourpea, Behwalay, Kparblee, and Zorgowee (Zordu).

In Grand Gedeh County, the designated locations are Toe City, Seniwein, Zleh Town, Poor Town, Janzon, Gaye Town, Polla, Gbarzon, and Ziah Town.

In River Gee County, registration will take place in Gbaweleken, Glaro, and Kronoken, while Pleebo has been designated as the registration center in Maryland County.

The Commission is urging all undocumented migrants, particularly Burkinabe nationals residing in the targeted counties, to take advantage of the exercise by presenting themselves at the designated centers for profiling and biometric registration.

“We strongly encourage community leaders, traditional authorities, local government officials and other stakeholders to cooperate with the joint technical team,” Bangalu indicated.

The LRRRC warned undocumented migrants against deliberately disregarding the exercise, stressing that the government has established the necessary institutional framework, deployed personnel, and designated registration centers to facilitate the process.

Cllr. Bangalu emphasized that proper identification and documentation are essential to effective migration management, national development planning, border security, and the promotion of the rule of law.

“The Government of Liberia is committed to strengthening migration governance, protecting national interests, and ensuring that migration is properly managed through credible identification, documentation and institutional coordination,” he stated.

He further stressed that the December 31, 2026 deadline is firm, urging all affected migrants to participate within the stipulated period.

The exercise will be conducted through a joint technical team comprising personnel from the three government institutions, with each agency contributing its statutory responsibilities and technical expertise to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative.

FARMINGTON, November 2, 2026 – Margibi County – Liberia’s Customs Commissioner, Saa Saamoi, has called on customs intelligence officers across West and Central Africa to move beyond administrative reporting and strengthen practical, intelligence-led enforcement to combat transnational crime, protect national revenue, and facilitate legitimate trade.

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

Commissioner Saamoi noted that the operating environment for customs authorities has become increasingly complex and unpredictable, with growing pressure on seaports, airports, and land border crossings as global supply chains become more interconnected.

He made the call Monday, November 2, 2026 at the opening of the 17th Annual Joint Meeting of National Contact Points of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILO) for West and Central Africa, held at The Farmington Hotel in Margibi County.

The meeting marks the first time Liberia is hosting the regional gathering, which has brought together delegates from 24 customs administrations.

“Global supply chains are becoming more interconnected, and our seaports, airports and land border crossings are experiencing growing pressure,” he said. “Today’s transnational criminal enterprises are often highly organized, financially resourced, technologically equipped and connected to networks extending across multiple jurisdictions.”

The Threats That Exist

According to the Commissioner, criminal networks are exploiting regulatory differences and weaknesses in intelligence-sharing systems to engage in activities such as cargo misdescription, under-valuation, origin fraud, document falsification, and the diversion of transit goods.

He challenged National Contact Points to move beyond serving as administrative channels for forwarding seizure reports, emphasizing that their effectiveness should be measured by the practical impact of intelligence exchanged and the enforcement operations it supports.

“The effectiveness of this network must ultimately be measured not simply by the volume of information we exchange, the number of meetings we convene or the reports produced, but by the operational value of the intelligence generated and the enforcement outcomes it supports,” Saamoi stressed.

“Intelligence collected but not analyzed has limited value. Intelligence analyzed but not shared in a timely manner loses its operational relevance,” he added.

The Customs Commissioner expressed hope that the Farmington meeting would be remembered not merely as the first time Liberia hosted the gathering, but for the practical outcomes and commitments it produces in strengthening regional cooperation against cross-border criminal activities.

Adapting Proactive Approach

Representing the Vice-Chair of the WCO West and Central Africa Region, Ibrahim Njoya emphasized the need for customs authorities to adopt a proactive approach to intelligence gathering and border surveillance.

“A vigilant customs service is one that does not simply check those who arrive at the border. It understands the circuits, identifies the methods, cross-references information, and directs its controls where the risk is real,” Njoya said while delivering the Vice-Chair’s address.

He disclosed that only 17 of the region’s 24 customs administrations participated in Operation CRIFAX 11, calling for broader and more consistent participation in future regional intelligence and enforcement initiatives.

“Information that isn’t shared in a timely manner loses most of its operational value,” Njoya noted.

He also commended the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) for involving other national law enforcement institutions in the meeting, describing interagency cooperation as essential to addressing increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

Njoya further recalled that the 6th Annual Meeting in Bamako recommended the integration of emerging technologies, including geospatial intelligence, open-source intelligence, artificial intelligence, and tracking tools, to strengthen intelligence gathering and operational effectiveness.

Also speaking at the occasion, Director General of RILO West Africa, Amandu Tejan Sesay, said customs seizures involving narcotics, falsified medicines, and protected wildlife species should not be viewed merely as enforcement statistics but as interventions that protect communities and society.

“Criminal networks know how to exploit borders, adapt the routes, and take advantage of shortcomings in coordination between our services. Information collected in one country can inform an inspection in another,” Sesay noted.

He also praised a senior officer of the Liberia Revenue Authority’s Customs Department for representing the institution and Liberia positively across the region through professionalism, quality work, and commitment to the regional intelligence network.

At the same time, speaking on behalf of Liberia’s Joint Security, Deputy Director General of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Prince B. Mulbah, warned that the country’s security environment has evolved from isolated criminal activities into an increasingly interconnected system of transnational organized crime.

“We are dealing with illicit drugs and psychotropic substances, particularly kush and tramadol, that are destroying our youths, illicit financial flows, arms smuggling, counterfeit pharmaceuticals and environmental crimes,” Mulbah said.

He observed that criminal networks are increasingly coordinating their operations across national borders, stressing that law enforcement institutions must adopt the same level of cooperation to effectively confront the threat.

Mulbah described intelligence shared through the WCO-RILO Customs Enforcement Network (CEN) and Customs Enforcement Network Communication (CENcomm) platforms as “the oxygen that Joint Security needs.”

He outlined three commitments on behalf of Liberia’s Joint Security institutions, which include the Liberia National Police, Liberia Immigration Service, LDEA, Armed Forces of Liberia, National Security Agency, Liberia Customs, and the Presidential Task Force on Illicit Mining.

“Number one, intelligence sharing is national security — we commit to breaking silos. Number two, from seizures to networks — we are moving away from only counting seizures to targeting the masterminds, the money and logistics. Number three, capacity and integrity — a well-trained, well-equipped and ethical officer is our best detector,” he declared.

Mulbah also urged delegates to openly address persistent challenges confronting regional enforcement efforts, including porous borders, inadequate forensic laboratories, delays in intelligence sharing, and corruption.

The week-long regional meeting is expected to assess the implementation of recommendations from the previous meeting in Bamako, improve data quality on the CEN and CENcomm platforms, and develop actionable recommendations to support coordinated enforcement operations across West and Central Africa.

The gathering is expected to strengthen regional collaboration and enhance the capacity of customs and law enforcement institutions to detect, disrupt, and dismantle criminal networks operating across national borders.

Paynesville – Vice President Jeremiah Kpang Koung showered praises on women and girls with disabilities upon their graduation from a six-month intensive vocational skills training under the “Empower Her” Program.

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

Launched in October 2025, the Empower Her Program is a national initiative for women and girls with disabilities, led by Second Lady Synleseh Stephanie Dahn-Koung and implemented by the Group of 77.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the first cohort, VP Koung, in a relatively short but inspiring message, commended the graduates for defying all odds to acquire skills that will propel them to another level.

He pointed out that their ability to learn new skills is a testament to their resilience, stressing that this is an important development for the growth of Liberia.

“All I can say to you is, thank you, I am very proud of you, Liberia is very proud of you. We look up to you to make a difference in society,” asserted the Vice President.

The 257 women and girls with disabilities were selected from over 600 applicants from all 17 districts of Montserrado County for the first cohort.

During the training, the graduates received basic vocational, entrepreneurship and financial literacy training in tailoring, catering and pastry-making, soap production, tie-dye, event decoration and arts and craft.

The training was held at four locations: the Group of 77 Vocational Training Center in Virginia, the Edward B. Kesselly Training Center (EBKTC), the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) in Paynesville, and the Compassion Women’s Center in Fendell.

Following their graduation, each graduate received a startup kit and micro-grant to start or expand a small business.

Giving an overview of the program, Group of 77 Programs Specialist, Stephen T. Kormoteh, explained that the program was sponsored by the Government of Liberia  in collaboration with its development partners, including ArcelorMittal.

Kormoteh said the Group of 77 Vocational Training is a flagship program of Liberia’s Second Lady, Mrs. Synleseh Stephanie Dahn-Koung, wife of Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung.

He asserted that the new skills will now enable the graduates to earn a livelihood.

The Group of 77 Programs Specialist indicated that the government intends to impact the lives of all persons with disabilities by providing training and empowerment nationwide.

This, according to him, will enable them to earn their own living and not rely on handouts as a means of survival.

Some beneficiaries of the training program expressed gratitude to the government for affording persons with disabilities the opportunity to acquire life-changing skills and empowering them to earn a decent livelihood.

Unification Town, Margibi County— ArcelorMittal Liberia, one of the country’s largest investors in the mining sector, has reaffirmed its commitment to Liberia’s development agenda, highlighting its investments in iron ore production, railway infrastructure, and industrial expansion as key drivers of economic growth.

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Michiel van der Merwe, said ArcelorMittal Liberia is helping position the country as a strategic supplier of premium iron ore to global markets while creating opportunities for industrial development and long-term economic growth.

Speaking at the Liberia International Mining and Energy Conference and Expo (LIMEC), held at the Farmington Hotel, van der Merwe stated that Liberia has the mineral resources, strategic location, and investment potential needed to compete in the global mining and energy sectors.

The conference marks the return of a major mining and energy gathering in Liberia after approximately 15 years.

Mining and Energy as Drivers of Economic Growth

Van der Merwe told the gathering that the future of Liberia’s economic growth depends partly on the country’s ability to capitalize on its natural resources while building strong partnerships among government, investors, industry players, and local communities.

He noted that countries capable of providing stable investment conditions, strong partnerships, and high-quality mineral resources are better positioned to attract investment and compete in international markets.

According to him, Liberia possesses many of these advantages but must strengthen collaboration and demonstrate sustained commitment to translate its potential into lasting prosperity for its citizens.

He also emphasized the importance of developing Liberian talent, saying investments in human capital would help ensure that future generations can lead and sustain the industries being established today.

Phase II Expansion Positions AML for Growth

Van der Merwe explained that ArcelorMittal Liberia’s experience demonstrates the benefits of long-term partnerships built on trust, commitment, and a shared development vision.

He pointed to the company’s Phase II Expansion Project as evidence of its long-term commitment to Liberia, describing the investment as a major transformation of the country’s iron ore industry.

He recounted that the commissioning of Liberia’s first large-scale iron ore concentrator represents a significant milestone for both the company and the country.

“It enables Liberia to move higher up the value chain by producing premium iron ore concentrate for international markets for current steel mills as well as the next generation of steel mills with lower carbon emissions technology.”

For him, the project demonstrates Liberia’s ability to attract and execute large-scale industrial investments capable of creating jobs, building local capacity, and strengthening national infrastructure.

US$800 Million Invested in Railway and Port Infrastructure

Beyond its investment in the concentrator, the AML chief threw light on the rehabilitation and expansion of the railway linking the company’s mining operations at Tokadeh to the Port of Buchanan.

Although the railway and port facilities are government-owned assets, van der Merwe maintains that ArcelorMittal has invested approximately US$800 million to date in rehabilitating the railway and expanding its capacity to accommodate the company’s planned growth.

He described the railway as critical infrastructure for supporting future mining operations and creating opportunities for other investors to transport minerals through the corridor.

The company’s investment, he asserted, has laid the groundwork for a multiuser railway system intended to support broader mining development in Liberia.

AML Targets More Than 20 Million Tons in 2027

Van der Merwe revealed that ArcelorMittal Liberia is preparing to increase its iron ore exports to more than 20 million tons in 2027, up from less than five million tons exported in 2024.

The projected increase follows the introduction of the company’s new concentrator and the expansion of supporting infrastructure.

“That’s a quadrupling of tonnage exported from Liberia,” he declared.

He added that the company is also planning to increase production capacity at its mines to 30 million tons, noting that the current railway expansion already accommodates this anticipated growth and could allow other users to access surplus capacity in the interim.

The planned expansion is expected to strengthen Liberia’s position in the international iron ore market while increasing demand for supporting services and infrastructure.

Government Reaffirms Multiuser Railway Commitment

Van der Merwe reiterated ArcelorMittal Liberia’s commitment to working with the Government of Liberia to ensure that the Tokadeh-to-Buchanan railway remains accessible to other mining companies.

He indicated that the company supports the position maintained by successive presidential administrations that the railway should operate as a multiuser asset, allowing other investors to benefit from the infrastructure.

The Third Amendment to the company’s Mineral Development Agreement, ratified earlier this year, provides for the railway to be open to other users, with the Government of Liberia determining which additional companies may access the corridor.

He told the gathering that prospective users would be responsible for financing their own expansion requirements, while benefiting from the foundational investments already made by ArcelorMittal Liberia.

“The recent Third Amendment to our Mineral Development Agreement, that was ratified earlier this year ensures that this is a railway open to all users, with the Government of Liberia deciding who else can utilize this infrastructure.”

Van der Merwe further disclosed that the operating framework for the multiuser railway, discussed by three successive administrations over the past decade, is being formalized through the Rail Systems Operating Principles (RSOP).

He accentuated that the principles provide for the railway to be operated by an independent company beginning in 2030.

Calls for Independent Railway Operator

The AML chief called for the establishment of an independent railway operator, describing the move as an important step toward transforming Liberia’s economy and expanding access to critical infrastructure.

He intoned that the cooperation among the government, investors, and industry could create the conditions necessary for sustainable economic growth.

“More importantly, it lays the foundation for a truly shared infrastructure platform that can unlock new mining opportunities, attract further investment, and accelerate national development,” van der Merwe said.

He added that the vision of shared infrastructure and prosperity extends beyond mining and rail transportation, requiring a collective commitment to national development.

Van der Merwe also disclosed that ArcelorMittal Liberia is in agreement with the government on the establishment of a National Rail Authority that would eventually oversee the development and management of additional railway corridors across the country.

The AML CEO clarified that the company wants the operating principles governing the Tokadeh-to-Buchanan railway to be recognized when the proposed authority is established.

AML Pledges Long-Term Partnership

, van der Merwe informed the conference that Liberia’s development ambitions could not be achieved by any single company, government institution, or investor acting alone.

At the same time, he is of the conviction that sustained cooperation could help create an environment in which investment flourishes, industries expand, and communities benefit from economic opportunities.

“ArcelorMittal Liberia remains committed to playing its part in that journey. We’ve played this part for the last twenty years and we are ready to do so for another forty years or more.”

Monrovia – A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States Parliament has ended a four-day oversight mission to Liberia with a call for the expansion of the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) across West Africa.

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

Members of ECOWAS parliamentary delegation described the digital customs platform as a critical tool for facilitating trade, improving transparency, and reducing delays in the movement of goods.

During their visit here, the delegation assessed the implementation of SIGMAT, examined its benefits, and identified challenges affecting its operations, including poor road infrastructure, limited connectivity, and the need for additional training.

Speaking during a media stakeout on Thursday, October 29, at the Liberia Revenue Authority’s (LRA) designated inspection site at the National Port Authority, Amdiatta Diaby of Senegal, head of the delegation and chair of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Committee on Trade, Customs and Free Movement, explained that the mission had provided valuable insights into the system’s performance in Liberia.

Diaby asserted that the delegation had observed the advantages of SIGMAT over the traditional manual customs system and believed the platform should be extended throughout the ECOWAS region.

“We have seen that SIGMAT has really excelled in the sector of customs,” Diaby said, adding that the mission also helped the delegation identify challenges confronting the system on the ground.

According to him, SIGMAT accelerates customs operations, improves the tracking of goods, and provides better access to information about shipments in transit. However, he stressed that road infrastructure, connectivity, and training remain key obstacles that must be addressed to ensure the system operates efficiently across the region.

Delegation Commends Liberia’s Progress

Seno Soklingi of Togo, vice chair of the delegation, also commended Liberia for progressively implementing the digital platform, noting that the country could benefit from the experiences of other ECOWAS member states where the system is more fully integrated.

Soklingi said the delegation’s discussions with Liberian authorities had been productive and emphasized the need for countries across the subregion to move away from manual customs procedures.

He cited Togo and Benin as examples of countries where SIGMAT has been integrated into customs operations, saying their experiences could help Liberia strengthen its implementation.

“We congratulate the authorities of Liberia to continue in this line to improve the system,” Soklingi said, encouraging other countries, including Sierra Leone and Guinea, to advance implementation.

He further urged the ECOWAS Parliament to consider the delegation’s recommendations and support efforts to extend the system to more member states.

Gambian Lawmaker Calls for Broader Regional Coverage

Maimuna Cessay of The Gambia, a member of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Committee on Social Affairs, Gender, Women Empowerment and Persons with Disabilities, called for the system to be expanded beyond the countries currently implementing it.

Cessay explained that the oversight mission had exposed the delegation to practical experiences and challenges that were not fully understood before the visit. She stressed that stronger regional cooperation and effective monitoring were necessary to improve customs operations and address potential revenue leakages.

She also highlighted the importance of inspection scanners and other technological tools in strengthening oversight and preventing individuals from exploiting weaknesses in customs procedures.

Cessay expressed concern that SIGMAT’s implementation remained limited to a number of countries, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea, and called for its expansion to The Gambia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Guinea-Bissau.

She further urged ECOWAS to consider air freight as part of broader efforts to improve the movement of goods and people across West Africa.

According to Cessay, expanding the system would strengthen regional trade, improve customs efficiency, and support the broader goal of economic integration.

LRA Identifies Digitalization as Tool Against Corruption

For his part, Atty. William L. Buku, Assistant Commissioner for Customs Policy at the Liberia Revenue Authority, said the ECOWAS Parliament’s visit was part of its oversight responsibility to assess the implementation of regional programs developed by the ECOWAS Commission.

Buku explained that SIGMAT was designed to harmonize customs and transit procedures among member states, allowing authorities in different countries to exchange information and coordinate the movement of goods across borders.

He described the platform as an important component of regional economic integration, noting that international transit operations require cooperation among multiple countries rather than isolated national systems.

“Digitalization is an enemy of corruption,” Buku told reporters, arguing that the system promotes transparency, improves the accuracy of data sharing, and reduces unnecessary human intervention in customs procedures.

He added that faster processing and clearance of goods could help reduce transportation costs for traders, as prolonged delays often increase the cost of moving goods across borders.

Buku said the system was intended to make transit operations more efficient by reducing delays and strengthening coordination among customs authorities.

Poor Roads Remain a Major Challenge

Despite the progress reported by the delegation, Buku acknowledged that inadequate road infrastructure and weak connectivity remain significant challenges to the efficient movement of goods across the subregion.

He noted the delegation had heard from operators who reported that journeys that should take less than two days between Abidjan and Danané, Côte d’Ivoire, sometimes take three days or as long as two weeks because of transportation difficulties.

Buku also referenced complaints about goods remaining in Abidjan for extended periods, with some operators reportedly saying shipments could be delayed for as long as a month.

He maintained that improved road connectivity would complement the digital customs platform by enabling goods to move more quickly after clearance and transit processing.

On the overall, delegation expressed appreciation to the Liberian government and the LRA for their cooperation during the mission, while encouraging continued investment in digital customs systems and stronger regional coordination to facilitate trade and advance economic integration across West Africa.

MONROVIA – Liberia’s House of Representatives has ordered a sweeping review of salaries and benefits across government, days after a rare public disclosure of a senior official’s pay reignited anger over the cost of running one of the world’s poorest countries. 

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the lower house of the national legislature instructed two of its committees, on Ways, Means and Finance and on Public Accounts, to examine the pay and perks of government officials and report back within two weeks. The motion was brought by Representative Alex S. Noah of Sinoe County.

Lawmakers argued that they are wrongly blamed for the country’s swollen wage bill, while ministers and the heads of state-owned enterprises earn far more.

The disclosure that lit the fuse

The vote came less than a week after Euphemia G.T. Swen-Monmia, President Joseph Boakai’s nominee for Deputy Governor for Economic Policy at the Central Bank of Liberia, appeared on October 22 before the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency for her confirmation hearing.

Asked about her pay, she did something Liberian officials rarely do: she gave the numbers. She testified that her monthly salary is US$9,000, that she receives around US$5,000 in cash benefits on top of that, and that her housing allowance should be about US$15,000. She has served in an acting capacity since August 12.

That amounts to roughly US$168,000 a year in salary and cash benefits before housing is counted. A civil servant on the government’s US$150 monthly minimum would need more than seven and a half years of uninterrupted work to earn what she receives in a single month.

Swen-Monmia is a career central banker who joined the bank in 2010 as a management trainee and rose to director of its Financial Markets Department. The controversy is not about her qualifications but about what her testimony revealed: pay at the top of Executive agencies is generous, and almost never made public.

No lawmaker cited her testimony by name during Tuesday’s debate. But the timing, and the focus of the two letters that triggered it, on officials earning more than US$5,000 a month, suggest the disclosure handed fresh ammunition to a chamber long cast as the main villain in Liberia’s debate over official pay.

‘We are suffering’

On the floor, several members described their own compensation as “peanuts” compared with Executive officials and argued the legislature deserves more because representatives serve larger numbers of constituents.

Representative Moima Briggs-Mensah of Bong County said a US$2,000 budget line meant for constituents’ school scholarships often never arrives, and that lawmakers lack the insurance enjoyed by Executive officials.

“We don’t even have Social Security benefits. We are suffering and people in the Executive are making mockery of us,” she said.

Representative Anthony Williams of Maryland County said lawmakers were being “falsely crucified” by the public while benefits such as fuel arrive months late.

“The Executive, especially SOEs are reaping the honey, while we are being falsely crucified,” he said, demanding that state enterprises disclose their gross and net pay and benefits to the House.

The numbers tell a different story

Lawmakers’ complaints sit uneasily with the figures. Senators earn US$8,000 a month each, according to the draft 2026 budget, and a bill to cut that to US$5,000, first introduced by Senator Abraham Darius Dillon in 2020, has stalled for years. In 2025, House members’ basic salary was put at roughly US$8,569 a month, with additional funding for security guards, drivers, cooks and other support staff.

The legislature as a whole has also grown more expensive. The draft 2026 budget gave lawmakers US$51.7 million, up from US$41.3 million in 2024.

That is in a West African nation of about 5.2 million people still rebuilding from 14 years of civil war that ended in 2003, whose national budget crossed US$1 billion for the first time this year. About half the population lives below the poverty line.

Meanwhile, front-line public servants struggle to get paid at all. Teachers’ U.S.-dollar pay has gone unpaid since October 2025, and nurses are demanding a monthly minimum of US$500.

A chamber in revolt

Tuesday’s vote follows weeks of turmoil inside the House over lawmakers’ own money. More than 40 members boycotted the legislature’s reopening session on October 9 in protest over unpaid benefits and allowances, including constituency visits, district projects, fuel and medical allowances. Calling themselves “Reformists,” they accused the chamber’s leadership of withholding benefits and legislative support funds.

The Senate faces its own scrutiny. A proposal from its Committee on Rules, Order and Administration, reported by FrontPageAfrica, seeks US$792,552 in the 2027 budget to raise salaries for 224 Senate staff, with some increases as high as 71 percent. The Senate has disputed the reporting and demanded a retraction; FrontPageAfrica stands by its story.

Two letters, two tones

The review was triggered by letters from two lawmakers who framed the problem very differently from their colleagues on the floor.

Representative Sumo Kollie Mulbah of Montserrado County asked the House to hold up the national budget until the Finance Ministry reports all salaries and benefits above US$5,000 a month for ministers, directors, county governors and commissioners. The central bank deputy governor’s testimony would place her nearly three times above that threshold.

Mulbah singled out housing allowances, fuel and phone-credit coupons, and overseas medical treatment on top of health insurance.

“While these elite benefits are sustained, critical national priorities like the increment of the minimum wage are continuously set aside,” he wrote.

Representative Musa Hassan Bility of Nimba County called for a special committee to review salaries, allowances, wasteful spending, duty-free privileges and tax exemptions across all branches of government, and insisted the legislature go first.

“We cannot continue to demand sacrifices from ordinary Liberians while protecting our own excessive privileges,” Bility wrote. “This must not be another selective exercise intended to embarrass particular officials for public applause.”

What to watch

The two-week deadline lands as the Executive prepares to send the 2027 budget to the legislature by October 31. The government projects total spending will fall to US$1.02 billion next year, meaning any gains for one group of officials will likely come at someone else’s expense.

The test is whether the committees follow Bility’s call to start with the legislature, or whether the review becomes, as he warned, a selective exercise aimed at the Executive. Liberians have heard promises of pay cuts before. A proposal to cut senators’ pay to US$5,000 has been on the table for six years without passing.

Capitol Building, Capitol Hill, October 26, 2026 – As he received a petition on the War and Economic Crimes Court from a CSO group under the banner National Council of Chiefs Support Office and the Liberia Massacre Survivors Association (LIMASA), House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon tells the petitioners that all is on course at the level of the Legislature for the actualization of the proposal.  

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

Receiving the document on Monday at his Capitol Building office in Monrovia, the Speaker of the 55^th Legislature assured petitioners that the proposed War and Economic Crimes Court bills remain on the Legislature’s agenda.

LIMASA, the petitioners, was accompanied by a host of other civil society organizations and war victims, who are seeking justice, national healing, reconciliation and accountability for crimes committed during Liberia’s civil conflicts. The move signals the critical importance of the ensuring accountability from what many believe was a nonsensical civil war that ravaged the country for more than 14 years.  

Speaker Koon acknowledged the concerns raised by victims and survivors across the country’s 15 counties and said the House leadership understands the importance of the proposed legislation.

Status Of The Proposal

He pointed out that the bills are currently before the relevant committees of both Houses and are undergoing thorough scrutiny.

According to him, the committees have already conducted public hearings and are seeking funding to conduct additional consultations to gather firsthand information from affected communities before submitting comprehensive reports to plenary.

He noted that the proposed legislation involves technical and complex issues that require careful review, adequate public consultation, and detailed explanations to enable lawmakers to make informed decisions.

No Specific Target

Speaker Koon clarified that the proposed bills are not intended to target any particular individual, tribe or religion, but is intended establish a legal framework for addressing war-related and economic crimes and to strengthen the rule of law.

“The committees are expected to continue consultations after the passage of the national budget, with further legislative discussions anticipated in the first session in January 2027. But what I can tell you is that the proposal is not targeted at any specific individual or group,” asserted the House Speaker.

The Montserrado County Electoral District #11 Representative and head of the Liberian Legislature among other things, assured the petitioners of the House’s commitment to responsible deliberation and encouraged them to continue engaging lawmakers throughout the process.

What The Petitioners Say?

Presenting the document, the petitioners emphasized the importance of establishing the proposed court to provide justice for victims and survivors, promote national reconciliation, and deter future atrocities.

They also highlighted concerns raised during public awareness engagements across Liberia’s 15 counties, noting that victims and survivors continue to seek accountability and closure for atrocities committed during the country’s civil wars.

The petitioners then appealed to the House leadership to prioritize the bills, arguing that their enactment would demonstrate Liberia’s commitment to addressing historical injustices and strengthening the rule of law.