Liberia Must Benefit from Its Resources-President Boakai Tells Cabinet

Executive Mansion, Liberia: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has declared that his government will take firm steps to safeguard Liberia’s natural resources, stressing that the country must begin to see real benefits from what is being extracted.

Speaking Thursday at the opening of the third Cabinet meeting for 2026 at the Executive Mansion, the President said protecting national resources remains a top priority of his administration.

The meeting, held under the theme of strengthening Liberia’s mineral sector for growth and national development, focused heavily on reforms in the mining industry. Discussions covered tightening legal frameworks, completing regulations for a proposed gold refinery, updating exploration rules, and advancing a new mining law. Cabinet also reviewed plans to formalize small-scale mining and amend existing laws to better tackle smuggling.

President Boakai pointed to a major concern in the sector lack of transparency. He noted that in many cases, government does not have full visibility over what companies are actually extracting beyond what is officially declared.

To address this, he emphasized the need to invest in Liberians by building skills in areas like geology, mining engineering, and resource management. According to him, strengthening local expertise will improve monitoring and protect the country’s interests.

The President also challenged members of his Cabinet to take a hard look at whether ordinary Liberians are truly benefiting from the country’s natural wealth. He raised concerns about environmental damage, including water pollution, as well as past agreements that failed to deliver infrastructure and broader national gains.

He acknowledged that existing mining deals signed by previous governments come with limitations, but made it clear that his administration will not use that as an excuse for inaction. Instead, he said, government must respect those agreements while still pushing for better outcomes.

Boakai further noted that investors must be allowed to operate profitably, but insisted that Liberia must also secure fair value from its resources.

Drawing from international examples, he urged the Cabinet to adopt global best practices in managing the sector to ensure long-term benefits for the country.

The President also raised concerns about weak accountability at the local level, warning that illegal mining activities can thrive where oversight is limited.

He concluded by reaffirming that the central government carries the ultimate responsibility to manage Liberia’s natural resources wisely and ensure they contribute meaningfully to national development.