President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has revealed that his government will conduct a sweeping review of all mining concessions across Liberia, with the aim of ensuring that the nation secures greater returns from its mineral wealth.
Addressing Liberians in the diaspora during a town hall meeting in Pennsylvania, USA, on Sunday, September 28, 2025, the Liberian leader explained that the review will be guided by both national priorities and international legal frameworks. His remarks were in response to concerns raised by attendees about the management of the country’s natural resources.
“We’re going to review all of our mining concessions, and we already have a timeline to do that,” President Boakai stated. He noted that while large-scale ventures like iron ore extraction are costly, smaller-scale activities such as gold mining present opportunities for Liberians themselves to participate.
The President expressed concern over millions of dollars in potential revenue lost annually due to “bad mining companies” and concession deals that do not adequately benefit the country. He stressed, however, that the government cannot arbitrarily revoke existing licenses because of binding international agreements.
“We cannot just come and cancel all the licenses, but we have an opportunity to review them, to make them suit our own conditions, and make sure that we are internationally compliant while ensuring that Liberians benefit,” he said.
Boakai further criticized a troubling pattern in the sector, where companies declare losses in Liberia but record profits through offshore entities. “Most of them declare losses in Liberia, but they make profits in their external holdings. We know that. Once we can address this, the opportunities will open for Liberians to participate,” he added.
The President assured that while respecting existing concession rights, his administration’s review process will prioritize fairness, transparency, and Liberia’s long-term growth. The mining sector, long regarded as a pillar of Liberia’s economy, has faced criticism over poor community benefits, weak oversight, and limited local participation.
Reaffirming his inaugural message of “No Business as Usual,” Boakai emphasized that the review aligns with the government’s ARREST Agenda, a development plan designed to reset key sectors of the economy.
Beyond mining, the President urged Liberians both at home and abroad to take responsibility for their country’s progress, noting that nation-building requires sacrifice, reconciliation, and unity. Reflecting on the civil war that claimed more than 250,000 lives, he honored peacekeepers and international partners who helped end the conflict, while urging Liberians to learn from the past.
“We must always remember those we lost, those who fought for peace, and the friends who stood with us,” he said. “But remembering is not the end. We must take responsibility for our country. This is why we are establishing a Diaspora Commission, to harness skills, talents, and investments from Liberians abroad.”
Calling on Liberians in the diaspora to view their homeland as a place of opportunity, Boakai stressed that collective effort is essential. “You can’t claim to be a Liberian when you don’t take responsibility for its growth. This is your country. We must rebuild it together,” he declared, citing initiatives to restore abandoned properties, boost tourism, and attract foreign investment.
The President closed his remarks by underscoring unity as the foundation for progress, reminding his audience that the task of rebuilding Liberia is not the sole responsibility of government, but of all its citizens.
