By: Melvin Flomo | WhatsApp: 0778677647
CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – Nimba County Senator Nyan D. Twayen Jr., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Modernization, has called for full transparency, accountability, and concrete community benefits in the proposed US$37 million concession and access agreement between the Government of Liberia and Ivanhoe Liberia Ltd.
The 25-year deal, recently signed by the Executive and submitted to the Legislature for ratification, would allow Ivanhoe to transport iron ore from Guinea through Liberia’s railway and port corridors—a project the Boakai administration says will strengthen regional trade and boost infrastructure integration.
“No More Bad or Lopsided Deals”
Addressing journalists on Capitol Hill on October 23, Senator Twayen welcomed foreign investment but warned against repeating Liberia’s history of unequal concession agreements that, in his words, “undermine the rights and dignity of the Liberian people.”
“The railway and associated infrastructure pass through the heart of our people’s lands in Nimba, where residents have already endured years of environmental degradation, loss of farmland, and displacement without adequate compensation,” he said. “Any agreement that seeks to expand or extend the use of these infrastructures must directly address these historical injustices.”
The Nimba lawmaker insisted that the deal must include legally binding community-benefit clauses and enforceable environmental safeguards, not “vague promises or clauses left to corporate discretion.”
“We must ensure this agreement reflects adequate community benefits, clearly stated and legally binding,” he emphasized. “It must also include proper environmental safeguards to protect our lands, rivers, and farmlands.”
Questions Over the US$37 Million Payment
Senator Twayen also raised concerns about a US$37 million payment reportedly made by Ivanhoe to the previous administration, as referenced in President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s cover letter to lawmakers.
“The Liberian people deserve to know what that payment was for and how it was utilized,” he asserted. “Accountability must be the foundation of trust in public governance.”
As a member of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget, he further cautioned against incorporating anticipated payments of US$10 million and US$15 million, tied to legislative ratification and project access, into the draft national budget before the agreement is fully reviewed.
“Doing so would create undue pressure on the Legislature to hastily ratify the agreement, potentially without thorough scrutiny,” he warned. “This must not be allowed.”
Legislature Pledges Careful Review
Senator Twayen assured that the Legislature will take a careful, clause-by-clause review of the Ivanhoe agreement to assess its fiscal, social, and environmental implications.
“We will study this agreement, assess its impact, and engage all stakeholders, including local communities, civil society, and experts, to ensure the interests of the Liberian people come first,” he said.
He further emphasized the need for a Community Development Fund to be explicitly defined within the agreement to ensure that affected communities benefit tangibly through schools, clinics, roads, and livelihoods.
“Our people deserve concrete, measurable commitments—not vague promises,” the Senator maintained.
Accountability as a National Imperative
Known for his strong stance against unbalanced concession renewals, including his opposition to the previous ArcelorMittal Liberia Mineral Development Agreement, Senator Twayen reiterated that Liberia’s natural resources must work for its citizens, not against them.
“Liberia can no longer afford to enter into agreements that mortgage our future for short-term gain,” he cautioned. “We must do due diligence, protect our people, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.”
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