EXECUTIVE MANSION, MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has directed senior government officials to urgently accelerate the completion and operationalization of the Putu Mining Project, emphasizing that the long-delayed venture is critical to Liberia’s economic recovery and national development.
In a cabinet directive issued on February 28, 2026, the President instructed the Vice President, ministers, and heads of relevant agencies to take immediate steps to finalize negotiations and administrative arrangements surrounding the project. The directive comes after months of delays despite repeated assurances from government institutions that discussions over the transfer of ownership of the Putu mining assets were nearing completion.
According to the President, the Office of the President has received numerous updates over the past eighteen months suggesting that negotiations and related arrangements were close to conclusion. However, he expressed concern that the process has remained slow and unresolved.
“The Office of the President has, over the past eighteen months, received multiple updates from relevant institutions indicating that negotiations and arrangements for the transfer of ownership of the Putu Mining assets were nearing completion,” President Boakai said in the directive. “Notwithstanding these assurances, the process remains unduly protracted. This delay is no longer tenable.”
The Liberian leader stressed that the government considers the timely completion of the Putu Mining Project to be an urgent national priority because of its potential to stimulate economic growth and employment opportunities.
“The Government views the timely conclusion of the Putu Mining Project as a matter of urgent national priority,” the President stated. “The operationalization of the mines is critical to economic recovery, revenue generation, and job creation, particularly in southeastern Liberia, where development expectations remain high.”
To ensure faster progress, the President has mandated Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung to assume direct leadership of the entire process and coordinate the work of institutions responsible for advancing the project.
Under the directive, the Vice President will work closely with several government entities, including the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the National Investment Commission, and the Ministry of Justice of Liberia.
These institutions have been instructed to fully cooperate with the Vice President and align their efforts to remove administrative and regulatory obstacles that may be delaying the project.
As part of the new directive, Vice President Koung is expected to convene an inter-agency task force within five working days to establish a clear roadmap outlining specific timelines for completing all remaining requirements related to the project.
The directive also calls for the urgent completion of all legal, financial, and administrative procedures required for the transfer of the Putu mining assets from their current sanctioned owners, in full compliance with Liberian laws and regulations.
Government institutions were further instructed to identify and resolve any bureaucratic or procedural bottlenecks that may be hindering progress. Officials are expected to take decisive actions within their mandates to eliminate such delays.
In addition, the administration emphasized the need to align financing arrangements and technical preparations that will allow for the immediate commissioning and commencement of mining operations once the transfer process is finalized.
President Boakai also directed that the Vice President submit biweekly progress reports to the Office of the President detailing achievements, challenges encountered, and corrective measures taken to maintain momentum in the process.
“The Government is determined to restore momentum to the Putu Mining Project and to deliver tangible economic benefits to the Liberian people,” President Boakai emphasized.
The Putu Mining Project, located in southeastern Liberia, has long been considered one of the country’s major potential mining investments. If fully operationalized, it is expected to generate significant revenue for the government while creating employment opportunities and stimulating development in surrounding communities.
With the new directive now in effect, the Boakai administration has signaled its determination to ensure that the long-anticipated mining venture moves forward without further delay, as officials work to translate the project into concrete economic gains for the Liberian people.
