MONROVIA – The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) expresses grave concern over the recently reported confrontation between aggrieved workers and officers of the Liberia National Police within the Arcelor Mittal concession area in Yekepa, Nimba County. Reports indicated that a protest by workers of AFCONS, a subcontractor of ArcelorMittal Liberia, escalated into violence, leaving a police officer disarmed, others injured, and resulting in multiple arrests of protesters, reportedly 27. According to a CENTAL press release issued on Friday, February 20, 2026, video footage that surfaced on social media shows aggrieved workers levying several allegations against the company, the Ministry of Labor, and officers of the Liberia National Police. The allegations range from the provision of contaminated water by the company, failing to honor an agreement for incentives, the use of teargas and live bullets to disperse the protest, to Assistant Labor Minister for Standards, Emmanuel Zorh, biased handling in his attempts to resolve the dispute.
According to media reports, a recent Labor Ministry release described the actions of the striking workers as unlawful. The ministry’s statement further issued a caveat to striking workers: either return to work or risk losing their jobs, as the demands made are not stipulated in their employment contracts nor in the Decent Work Act of Liberia. As an institution dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity, CENTAL believes that the reported unlawful actions undermine public trust in both corporate and state institutions. To restore confidence and ensure justice, CENTAL calls for an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the matter. The probe should carefully examine the root causes of the workers’ grievances, the conduct of law enforcement officers and protesters during the confrontation, and the broader labor relations practices within concession areas.
The incident at Yekepa highlights broader governance challenges in Liberia’s extractive sector. Concession agreements must not only deliver economic benefits but also safeguard the rights and dignity of workers and communities. CENTAL therefore urges the Government of Liberia, Arcelor Mittal, AFCONS, the aggrieved workers, and other stakeholders to prioritize dialogue, transparency, and accountability in their operations. This will help prevent future conflicts, strengthen trust, and ensure that Liberia’s natural resources benefit all citizens equitably.
CENTAL reaffirms its commitment to working with government, civil society, and private sector actors to strengthen accountability and integrity in concession management and other fronts.
We believe that an impartial probe, followed by concrete reforms, will send a strong signal that Liberia values justice, fairness, and responsible corporate governance.
