Liberia Vows to Protect Miners at Global Safety Training

Beijing, China: Hon. Carlos E. Tingban, Sr., Assistant Minister for Mines of the Republic of Liberia, has delivered a compelling address at the inauguration of the Technical Training Course on Mine Rescue for Belt and Road countries in Beijing, underscoring the urgent need to prioritize mine worker safety through international cooperation and knowledge sharing.

Speaking before officials from China’s Ministry of Emergency Management, international diplomats, business leaders, and mining stakeholders, Minister Tingban extended warm greetings from Liberia’s President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Sr., and Minister of Mines and Energy Hon. Wilmot J. M. Paye.

He expressed deep appreciation for China’s ongoing support under the Belt and Road Initiative, which since 2013 has fostered development across Africa and beyond in infrastructure, agriculture, technology, and now mining safety.

Minister Tingban emphasized that economic growth must never come at the expense of human life.

“No economic progress is worth risking even one worker’s life”.

He highlighted the harsh realities faced by many artisanal and small-scale miners in Liberia, including inadequate training, insufficient safety equipment, and exposure to hazardous working conditions. While the Liberian government has taken significant steps to address these issues, Tingban emphasized that capacity-building efforts like this training course are vital for achieving lasting improvements.

The Assistant Minister praised the strong partnership between Liberia and China, describing it as a model of sovereign cooperation based on mutual respect and shared prosperity. He noted that recent China-funded mineral surveys in Liberia have uncovered significant new resources, opening fresh opportunities for sustainable development. 

Addressing the trainees and rescuers present, Minister Tingban hailed them as “heroes of the working class class”whose courage and dedication protect lives and uphold human dignity. He called mine rescue not just a technical skill but the “beating heart of a truly humane mining industry.”

Tingban at the same time reaffirmed Liberia's and its partners' commitment to building a mining sector grounded in safety, transparency, and ethical responsibility.

“We will not allow our miners to be buried beneath the weight of negligence. We will rise and we will rescue,” he declared. 

This historic training event signals a promising new era where mining safety takes center stage in global development efforts. Through collaboration and knowledge exchange, countries like Liberia and China are paving the way for a safer, fairer, and more sustainable mining future.