Samuel Koffa Nah, Jr. Borough of New Kru Town

District #15, Montserrado County

Dear Mr. Editor,

I write to praise the good work being done by Deputy Speaker Hon J. Fonati Koffa and other leaders of the National Legislature who are pushing for the passage of the third AML amendment.

As a graduate of the University of Liberia and a son of Grand Kru County, I too, see the importance of AML to the process of reviving the Liberian economy and providing jobs.

This move to pass the AML MDA and remove all obstacles to the company’s expansion would create thousands of jobs for us young graduates and open new doors to local and national development.

I usually tell people who point to petty shortcomings of the company or make unrealistic demands of the company that it will be foolish for us to destroy a good company because it is not perfect.

I do not usually praise the Legislature but on this new move, they have my full support, and the decision is a true reflection of the views of our people in the fifteen counties and not just those in Nimba, Bassa, and Bong counties who are directly affected by the concession.

My letter is in reaction to a front-page headline carried in your August 1, 2022, edition: House Optimistic of Passing ArcelorMittal’s MDA.

Five reasons why the AML MDA passage is the right thing to do.

Liberian economists and other mining sector experts have long since said the AML deal was a healthy step forward and that if taken to full implementation, the AML expansion deal would serve as a jump-start to the Country’s economic stagnation.

Here are five reasons why the Legislature should give the AML MDA the green light:

The deal will signal to the world that foreign investors trust Liberia and that there is serious potential in our economy.

That the Liberian Government is credible given that the deal was cleared before this current Legislative delays

The AML deal will open the door to a massive expansion program by the company that could put millions of dollars in the pockets of small Liberian-owned businesses and thereby ensuring that Liberians are not spectators in their own economy.

Some analysts say the AML deal could create over three thousand direct jobs and several thousand more indirect jobs in contractor services.

As AML is a market leader, the passage of its MDA could attract additional foreign investment that Liberia a poor country cannot afford to miss.

Giving the AML the green light would also push the company to expand its corporate social responsibility activities that would support local development and help lift many families out of poverty while protecting the environment in smart ways.

Regards,

Samuel Kofa- Nah Jr.

Graduate, University of Liberia

@knahjr@hotmail.com