By Precious D. Freeman
Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL) and its partners have convened a high-level policy dialogue on the theme “Strengthening Inclusive Governance and Accountability in Liberia’s Natural Resources Sector.”
The event, held in collaboration with government officials and representatives from the Irish government, aimed to address key governance and transparency challenges in managing Liberia’s vast natural resources.
The dialogue, moderated by media practitioner, Maureen Sieh, covered critical topics such as strengthening compliance in the natural resources sector, gender inclusion, taxation, and governance within the framework of the Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of IWL, Harold M. Aidoo, emphasized the need for a transparent and inclusive approach to managing Liberia’s natural resources.
He acknowledged the presence of government representatives, legislators, and development partners, noting their role in driving reforms.
“We are at an inflection point where our newly launched development framework, the Arrest Agenda, identifies critical gaps in our natural resource sector. These include corruption, governance deficits, and the lack of community benefits from resource extraction,” Aidoo stated.
He highlighted the importance of state capacity in negotiating contracts and ensuring transparency in resource management. “The contracting process has long been shrouded in secrecy and corruption. If we are to maximize the benefits of our resources, we must push for stronger governance structures,” he added.
Aidoo also stressed the shifting global aid landscape, noting that international support for developing countries is shrinking, making it more urgent for Liberia to properly manage its natural wealth.
“With many Western nations, including the UK and USAID, reducing their aid contributions, we must take responsibility for strengthening our resource governance to ensure national development,” he said.
The Representative of District 4 in Nimba County, Ernest M. Manseah, commended IWL for organizing the dialogue, calling it a step in the right direction.
“Governance and resource management are key to national development. As policymakers, we must work with civil society, development partners, and private sector actors to ensure that our natural wealth benefits all Liberians,” Manseah noted.
He further called for a collective effort to improve governance in the resource sector, pledging continued support for policy discussions that foster transparency and accountability.
The Deputy Director General for the National Bureau of Concessions, Bilclintos Beyan Kamara, the role of monitoring and accountability in ensuring fair revenue generation from the country’s resources.
“Liberia’s economy depends heavily on mining, agriculture, forestry, and other resource-driven activities. Our focus should be on ensuring that concession agreements are fair, communities benefit, and the nation as a whole reaps the rewards of its natural wealth,” Kamara stated.
He also highlighted the need for technical expertise to improve concession monitoring and ensure compliance with governance standards.
The Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), Rudolph Merab, stressed the importance of stakeholder collaboration in managing Liberia’s forest resources.
“When all voices—government, private sector, and civil society—are included in discussions on resource governance, we can achieve sustainable development while protecting our environment,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Lorna Baysah, Executive Director of the Rural Human Rights Activists Program (RHRAP), expressed appreciation to IWL and its partners for fostering dialogue on natural resource governance.
“This conversation must continue. We must ensure that policies formulated today are implemented for the benefit of all Liberians,” she said.
The policy dialogue concluded with a call for actionable recommendations to improve governance, transparency, and community benefits in Liberia’s natural resources sector.
Stakeholders emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between government, civil society, and private sector actors to achieve inclusive and sustainable resource management. With the Arrest Agenda serving as a roadmap for national development, participants expressed optimism that such dialogues would lead to concrete reforms, ensuring that Liberia’s natural wealth is equitably managed for future generations.
