By Nukanah Kollie
ZOTA DISTRICT, BONG COUNTY – In plain view of passersby, strong, shirtless men were seen pushing machines and hauling equipment in Gbankonah, Zota District, as mining continued without pause. Some worked underground in deep holes, while others operated heavy machines above ground, completely unfazed by the suspension order from the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Thick clouds of dust filled the air, and the constant roar of engines echoed through the village, making it clear that DA-TANG’s operations were in full swing In spite of government orders.
Despite a government mandate to shut down, DA-TANG Mining Company Inc. has continued its full-scale gold mining operations in the area.
An investigative team comprising journalists visited the site on Saturday, April 12, 2025, and confirmed that mining was ongoing. This defiance follows a recent suspension issued by the Ministry, which cited illegal mining activities and encroachment on land legally licensed to H & K Trading Inc. in the Wainsue Mining District.
The Ministry’s action was formally confirmed by Acting Deputy Minister for Operations, Oliver S. Gbegbe, following the release of a detailed investigative report by Assistant Minister for Mines, Carlos E. Tingban, Sr. The report was prompted by a complaint filed on March 20 by H & K Trading Inc.
The investigation revealed that DA-TANG was conducting mining operations within the territory covered under license MEL 9003722, owned by H & K, without legal authority. A field assessment carried out by ministry technicians and senior staff discovered that DA-TANG had altered its Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates without approval. Though the company dismissed the modification as minimal, records confirm that a 2022 request for a coordinate change was denied. Still, the company proceeded to use those unauthorized coordinates for its 2025 license renewal.
Further findings revealed that DA-TANG was operating based on its 2014 Class B License, which did not include the disputed area. Ministry officials believe the company knowingly used the unapproved coordinate change as a front for unlawful mining. Alarmingly, one of the company’s representatives was accused of attempting to bribe ministry officials to sway the license approval process.
The investigation also implicated Surveyor Victor Nyumah, who was responsible for a 2021 site survey. Authorities determined that Nyumah had manipulated survey data and compromised the process. He has since been recommended for indefinite suspension.
Following the findings, the Ministry ordered DA-TANG to cease operations in the contested area and return to its originally licensed site. The company is also expected to face fines under the Mineral and Mining Laws of 2000. A specialized technical team including engineers and geologists has been assigned to conduct further evaluations and recommend next steps. Nonetheless, the company continues to operate in defiance of the Ministry’s orders.
A moratorium remains in place on DA-TANG’s mining activities, and the company has been given a 30-day window to file an appeal before a formal hearing panel.
DA-TANG Mining Company commenced gold extraction in Wolapolue Clan, Zota District, back in 2018.
This latest defiance by DA-TANG underscores a deeper, systemic problem within Liberia’s mining sector. Illegal and unregulated mining activities are rampant, posing severe threats to licensed operators, the environment, and local communities. Both foreign and local companies have repeatedly been caught violating regulations, ranging from illegal site expansion to forged documents and corrupt negotiations with regulatory officials.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy has over the past few years suspended several mining operations across Lofa, Nimba, and Grand Cape Mount counties due to similar infractions. These unauthorized activities often cause land degradation, pollute water sources, and fuel tensions between miners and indigenous populations.
Worse still, the proliferation of illegal mining has been linked to child labor, unsafe working conditions, and widespread human rights abuses, especially in remote areas where regulatory oversight is weak or nonexistent.
Despite repeated efforts, the Ministry’s enforcement capacity remains hamstrung by limited resources and internal corruption. Officials continue to stress the importance of transparency, accountability, and adherence to the law. But unless stronger and more consistent measures, such as criminal prosecutions, improved monitoring systems, and active community engagement, are adopted, Liberia risks allowing its mining sector to slide further into lawlessness and exploitation, undermining its long-term economic potential.
