Monrovia – Senator Numene Bartekwa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Concessions and Investment, is calling for immediate enforcement of royalty payments by individuals and companies engaged in sand mining and rock crushing across Liberia.
According to Senator Bartekwa, the Government of Liberia receives no meaningful benefits from Liberians and foreign nationals mining sand and quarrying rocks—activities he says continue to flourish without regulation or accountability.
The Grand Kru County Senator, a member of the 55th National Legislature, cited Royesville and Caldwell in Montserrado County as examples of areas where large-scale mining operations are taking place with no benefit to the government or affected communities.
His concerns were outlined in a communication addressed to the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, December 9.
Bartekwa noted that Liberia’s natural resources—especially sand and rocks—are being heavily exploited by miners who, in the process, cause severe environmental, health, and infrastructural problems for local residents.
“I have the honor to bring to the attention of the Liberian Senate the uncontrollable and unregulated mining of Liberia’s industrial resources (sand and rocks) with no benefit to the government or the people of affected communities,” he stated.
Foreign Firms Mining Without Royalties
According to the senator, foreign nationals secure mining licenses from the Ministry of Mines and Energy and establish industrial centers that extract massive quantities of these resources—yet pay no royalties, unlike operators in other mineral sectors.
He added that the situation is even worse for communities living near the mining sites, who receive nothing in return despite suffering health risks and environmental destruction.
Communities Bearing the Burden
Bartekwa said the impacts are becoming unbearable: constant blasting, severe pollution, damaged access roads and heavy trucks causing vibrations and structural stress.
“With all the lack of benefits, the shocks from constant blasting, pollution, and the heavy haulage of materials continue to impose serious health conditions on affected communities while destroying their access roads,” he added.
He argued that these activities leave communities economically deprived and place the financial burden of road rehabilitation and environmental protection solely on the government.
Call for Government Action
Senator Bartekwa urged the Senate to mandate relevant committees to ensure that miners are compelled to pay rightful royalties to the Government of Liberia; and povide tangible benefits to communities hosting mining operations.
“Government must act now for the safety of the Liberian people,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Senate Plenary has directed its Joint Committee on Mines and Energy, Judiciary, Ways, Means, Finance and Budget to launch a full investigation. Plenary remains the highest decision-making body of the Senate.
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