By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has issued Executive Order No. 167 establishing a sweeping National Taskforce on illicit mining, granting it broad enforcement powers including the authority to halt illegal operations, confiscate equipment, and arrest violators as part of a renewed national crackdown on environmental destruction and mineral resource exploitation.
The Taskforce, officially named the “Protect Our Resources Task Force,” is mandated to immediately identify and shut down illegal mining activities across Liberia, in what the Executive Mansion describes as a coordinated, intelligence-driven response to what it calls a growing national threat.
The Executive Order cites constitutional provisions affirming that Liberia’s natural resources belong to the state and must be managed for the benefit of all citizens. It also references findings by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which documented widespread environmental violations during a compliance exercise conducted on May 18, 2026.
According to the Order, illegal mining operations have contributed to severe environmental degradation, including river diversion, dredging of waterways, destruction of wetlands, deforestation, soil erosion, and contamination of freshwater sources. The document also warns of the use of hazardous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide, which pose long-term risks to public health, fisheries, drinking water, and biodiversity.
Beyond environmental damage, the Executive Order links illicit mining to broader socio-economic concerns, including loss of state revenue, child labor, unsafe working conditions, land disputes, community tensions, and the illegal movement of natural resources out of the country.
President Boakai emphasized that these challenges require a coordinated, sustained, and forceful national response involving law enforcement agencies, environmental regulators, and local communities.
Under its mandate, the Taskforce is empowered to conduct nationwide investigations, shut down illegal mining sites, confiscate mining equipment, and arrest offenders for prosecution by the Ministry of Justice. Detentions may also be carried out where necessary in accordance with the law.
The Taskforce is further authorized to collaborate with the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) for operational support, manpower, and enforcement actions. The Order also permits the use of force where necessary, subject to approval by the leadership of the security forces.
The body will be required to submit quarterly reports directly to the Office of the President, detailing enforcement actions, environmental restoration efforts, and community engagement outcomes. It will also maintain a public registry of confiscated equipment and prosecution records as part of transparency measures.
The Taskforce will be chaired by Abraham Kromah and include representatives from key institutions such as the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Armed Forces of Liberia, and the Liberia National Police, alongside other appointed members.
Local authorities, including superintendents, chiefs, and district commissioners, are instructed to monitor and report illegal mining activities within their jurisdictions. Citizens are also encouraged to report environmental violations and refrain from supporting illicit operations.
The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is expected to provide funding for the Taskforce’s operations based on approved budgetary allocations.
While the Executive Order underscores accountability and transparency requirements, it also stresses that enforcement must respect constitutional protections and human rights, warning that all operations must balance forceful intervention with community safety and environmental sustainability.
The Taskforce is established for an initial one-year period, subject to renewal based on performance evaluations and recommendations.
