GANTA, Nimba County – The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) Multi‑Stakeholder Group (MSG) has concluded a two‑day mid‑year retreat in Ganta City, Nimba County.
By D Franklin Doloquee
The retreat reviewed and approved key documents, generated a unanimous multi‑stakeholder response to the International Secretariat’s Draft Validation Report, assessed progress, identified challenges, and proposed steps to strengthen (EITI) implementation in Liberia.
Senior representatives from the government, civil society, county‑level media and extractive companies attended the two‑day mid‑year retreat and assessed the status of priority activities for the year.
At the opening session, Eudora B. Pritchard, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Mines and Energy and proxy for the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) Chairperson, affirmed the Government of Liberia’s strong commitment to Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) principles and standards.
She highlighted reforms driven by the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) implementation in the mining sector, including the inclusion of Beneficial Ownership Transparency in the Ministry’s licensing process, digitalization of mining license applications, development of new mining policies, and scaling up enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.
David K. Akoi, Deputy Minister for Planning and Research at the Ministry of Agriculture, commended the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG’s) oversight role and the technical expertise of the LEITI Secretariat in implementing MSG decisions.
He pledged the Ministry of Agriculture’s continued adherence to EITI principles and standards.
Sam P. Jallah, member of the 55th National Legislature representing District Three, Bomi County, said the National Legislature regards LEITI as a key institution for driving extractive sector reforms.
He pledged legislative support to review the LEITI Act and, where necessary, to provide authority enabling LEITI to enforce EITI implementation.
He also committed to ensuring LEITI reports regularly to the House of Representatives.
Key outcomes of the retreat included: Approval of the MSG’s draft response to the EITI Draft Validation Report, Review and approval of the Secretariat’s draft plan for nationwide dissemination of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency initiative (LEITI ) 16th EITI summary report, Review and documentation of progress and challenges against the LEITI Secretariat’s 2026 EITI Workplan, Agreement on actionable steps to address challenges hindering implementation of the 2026 Workplan, Review and approval of the Secretariat’s plan to simplify, visualize, and increase accessibility of LEITI data, Review and discussion of the MSG meeting attendance scorecard for the first quarter of 2026, Approval of innovative measures to strengthen contract transparency, anti‑corruption efforts, and beneficial ownership disclosure, Approval of plans to finalize the Compliance Investigation Report, Review of the implementation level of Performance Management Targets agreed with the Office of the President for fiscal year 2026.
Institutions represented at the retreat included the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Liberia Revenue Authority, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture, Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the National Oil Company of Liberia.
Others are the Liberia Chamber of Mines, Liberia Timber Association; Liberia Agriculture Companies Association, Liberia Business Association; Publish What You Pay/Resource Justice Network, Mineral Civil Society Organizations of Liberia; National Civil Society Council of Liberia, the House of Representatives and GIZ.
Meanwhile, LEITI remains committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in the management of Liberia’s extractive resources to support sustainable national development.
