Monrovia – A member of the Liberian Senate says Liberians are yet to feel the impact of the numerous concessions being signed due to bad governance.
The Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Concession says Liberia’s underdevelopment is due to dishonesty and unethical individuals who are in positions of trust.
Senator George Tengbeh who is also a high ranking member of the 53rd National Legislature says if nothing is done to address the leadership challenge, the country development will be retarded.
The Lofa Country Senator also noted that Liberia’s abundant resources have for too long been mismanaged by corrupt and self-centered leaders.
According to Senator Tengbeh, citizens of the country are yet to feel the impact of concession companies despite the government signing social development agreements with these companies with commitments to improve the citizens’ living standards.
He called on his colleagues at the level of the legislature to enact laws that would ensure that the country’s resources positively impact the lives of the citizenry.
“Enacting laws is every one of us at the legislature business and we owe it to the people that elected us, it is time that the people benefit from the concessions we signed,” he noted.
Senator Tengbeh was speaking at the launch of the Rights and Rice Foundation (RRF) Project in Monrovia.
The Rights and Rice Foundation Project is aimed at engaging policymakers towards attaining sustainable management of the natural resources of the country.
The project was launched under the theme working together towards a better future for Liberia.
Making presentation on RRF Natural Resource Governance program, the Executive Director of RRF, Mr. James M. Yasiah said no Liberian is against investment, saying all investments should be investment friendly.
He said if investments must benefit the entire country, it should start from the people that live within the concession areas that gave out their land for investment.
“If those people don’t feel the impact of investment, I think we are killing ourselves, the benefit should start from the communities of those concession companies,” he added.
Mr. Yarsiah said the people are not feeling the impact of concessions within the country. He noted that things need to change for the benefit of the generation to come.
Liberia is rich in natural resources, notably iron ore, diamonds, gold, timber and rubber. All of these sectors suffered dramatically during the civil war that ended in 2003.
During the 14 years of war, all major mines were closed and the mineral sector’s contribution to the economy reduced to a negligible level.
Liberia is more than 167 years old but the country remains one of the poorest and underdeveloped nations in the world. Sixty seven percent of Liberians are said to be living in abject poverty, according to international reports. Most people survive on less than US$1 per day.
Graft in the country is also, rife; bribery and shady deals in public offices, and the election and appointment of individuals with discredited public records to prominent positions in government are common.
Many believe that the lack of proper management has been one of the reasons behind the under development of the country.
Edwin G. Genoway, Jr – [email protected]