MONROVIA – In the face of rising scrutiny over ArcelorMittal Liberia’s operations and its proposed new Mineral Development Agreement, the Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), Anderson Miamen, has called for transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based negotiations that prioritize the well-being of Liberians, particularly those in affected mining communities. His remarks were shared today in a statement posted to his official Facebook page.
Miamen emphasized that while Liberia urgently needs investors across sectors such as mining, forestry, and agriculture to drive economic development, those investments must be truly mutually beneficial and not repeat the mistakes of the past. He pointed out that most previous large-scale concession agreements were poorly negotiated and marred by corruption, with lawmakers and executive officials allegedly receiving bribes in exchange for approvals. This pattern of compromise and neglect, he argues, has left communities stripped of resources but with little to show in return.
Nimba County, the heart of ArcelorMittal’s operations, stands as a stark example of such failures. According to Miamen, while the company bears responsibility for its shortfalls, government officials who were entrusted with the duty of negotiating in the public’s interest are equally, if not more, culpable. He condemned those who used their positions to gain personal benefits such as supplying trucks and logistics to concessionaires while abandoning oversight and accountability.
In a pointed observation, Miamen questioned the company’s recent claim that it spent US$1.4 billion on its newly dedicated iron ore processing facility in Nimba. While he stopped short of rejecting the figure outright, he called for an independent audit or verification of the amount to ensure transparency and prevent potential manipulation of public perception during this critical period of renegotiation.
Touching on recent protests by youth in Nimba, Miamen expressed solidarity with their peaceful demands. Though he disagreed with the extreme position that the company should leave the country entirely, he acknowledged that the protesters have raised legitimate concerns that must be addressed both by ArcelorMittal and the Government of Liberia. He warned that Liberia in 2025 is not the same as it was in 2004 when the company first began operations, and any future agreements must reflect the current realities and expectations of the Liberian people.
In closing, Miamen stressed that any continuation or expansion of ArcelorMittal’s operations in Liberia must involve inclusive, transparent, and evidence-based deliberations. A new agreement, he asserted, must prioritize development, employment, and other key needs of the people, areas which were grossly neglected in the past. Without these critical improvements, Liberia risks repeating the same cycles of exploitation, disenfranchisement, and underdevelopment.
