MONROVIA – Liberia finds itself at a pivotal stage in its post-conflict economic recovery, and Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala, Assistant Professor of Law at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law and founder of The Centrism Movement, is calling for clarity, balance, and patriotism in public discussions surrounding the Oranto Petroleum Agreement. Gbala spoke out this week to counter what he described as misleading claims made by former Speaker of the House, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa.
“Liberia is at a very important stage in its national recovery process,” Gbala said. “After many years of economic challenges due to internal and external factors, our country is finally attracting serious international attention in areas like energy, mining, and infrastructure. These investments can help create jobs, increase government revenue, and lift many families out of poverty.”
Gbala warned that Koffa’s public statements about the Oranto deal are misleading and potentially harmful to Liberia’s economic progress. “His recent comments are not helping Liberia; they are meant to confuse the public, weaken investor confidence, and score political points,” he asserted.
Addressing specific claims, Gbala said the notion that Liberians are being excluded from the agreement is false. “Liberia’s petroleum laws allow the government and its agencies to negotiate ownership terms that fit each project,” he explained. “The interest assigned to the National Oil Company of Liberia, NOCAL, is a national share that belongs to all Liberians. NOCAL manages it on behalf of the people. Saying that Liberians are left out because their share is managed by NOCAL is both wrong and misleading.”
Gbala also rejected criticisms of the signature bonus in the Oranto deal. “The law only requires that all money from petroleum activities be properly recorded and paid into the national treasury. Once this is done and the Ministry of Finance includes it in the national budget, there is full compliance with the law,” he said, stressing that legal compliance is being observed.
He further defended the clause allowing Oranto Petroleum to recover exploration costs, describing it as standard practice globally. “If oil is found, the company can recover its costs. If no oil is found, the company loses all the money it spent. Cllr. Koffa knows this well, so his claims are clearly meant to mislead the public,” Gbala noted.
Gbala dismissed comparisons made between Liberia’s $1.2 million bonus and Ghana’s $20 million bonus, explaining the economic realities. “Ghana’s oil blocks were already producing oil when those bonuses were paid, while Liberia’s oil blocks are unexplored and risky. No serious investor will pay a high amount for an area that has not yet been proven to contain oil,” he said, urging citizens to understand the context behind the numbers.
Criticizing what he called politically motivated attacks, Gbala said, “When a senior lawmaker publicly attacks legal agreements that he could improve through the internal legislative ratification process, investors begin to lose confidence. This delays projects and prevents job creation. That is not patriotism. It is carelessness, bitterness, and economic sabotage.”
Gbala also accused Koffa of hypocrisy, highlighting his role in approving less transparent deals while serving as Deputy Speaker under the CDC government. “Having benefited from and defended less transparent deals while in power, Koffa now seeks to appear as a champion of accountability only after losing political influence. That is not the behavior of a patriot. It is the posture of a frustrated politician seeking relevance,” Gbala said.
Concluding his statement, Gbala emphasized the importance of truth, transparency, and centrist governance. “Liberia’s future will not be built on anger or empty noise. It will be built on truth, fairness, and responsible leadership. Once the official copy of the Oranto Petroleum Agreement is available, I will publish a clear, fact-based review from a centrist and patriotic point of view, one that focuses on what is best for the Liberian people,” he said, calling for honest and visionary leadership rather than political bitterness masquerading as patriotism.
