By Taisiah K. Merfee
The House of Representatives has set up a specialized Committee to review and investigate the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) of the Western Cluster Concession and then report to that August body within two weeks. The Committee include lawmakers from those affected Counties, including Bomi, Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount.
The Plenary made the decision based on a communication from Nimba County Representative seek the indulgence of Plenary to have the operations of the Western Cluster Liberia Limited halted with immediate effect and an investigation be carried out against the backdrop of mounting public outcry and the Management be invited by the Plenary.
The Nimba county lawmaker said a critical reviewed of the MDA/MOU would had been done by the Legislature but this was not the case and as such, the Citizens are the citizens are concerned.
Representatives Kogar said Western Cluster Liberia signed a MOU with this Government on April 12, 2022 as a means of realizing its 25 years MDA, which gives the company exclusive rights to mine 30 million tons of iron ore annually, comprising quartz, hematite, magnetite and other minerals in Western Liberia and was given Class “A” license to begin its miming.
“Some of you might be aware of the recent waves of citizens in Bomi, Cape Mount and Gbarpolu Counties and the public frustrations on the renegotiations of Western Cluster Liberia and the GOL’s MOU, in which the citizens expressed some major concerns to include the Company’s failure to implement the MDA it signed in 2011, unilateral decision to renegotiate the new MOU deal without the citizens’ inputs, employment, health and education concerns along with infrastructural concern.
He said it is prudent that there should be an immediate halt to the company’s operations for a speedy investigation in this matter of national concern.
Following the reading of the communications, the lawmakers debated that the House of Representatives, should investigate and properly review the MDA of the Company in the best interest of the people of the effected counties.
It was voted upon that a specialized committee by set up to pay an investigative visit on the site of the Company to find out what really the issued are and the MDA be properly reviewed by the Committee and submit the findings to the body in two weeks.
