By Vaye Abel Lepolu
Monrovia, Liberia — A prominent Liberian political figure and Senator for Sinoe County Duncan has delivered a fiery public address, blaming Liberia’s prolonged economic hardship not solely on corruption, but largely on unfair resource agreements, weak leadership, and a poor voting culture among citizens.
Speaking before a gathering of citizens in Says Town community 3rd street Sinkor, the former Representative and Senator said corruption accounts for only a fraction of the country’s suffering. According to him, more than 80 percent of Liberia’s economic problems stem from the nation’s failure to take full control of its vast natural resources.
“Liberia is not a poor country,” he declared. “God has blessed this land with iron ore, gold, forests, and other minerals. What makes us poor is fear,fear to stand up to international partners who take our resources and give us only cents on every dollar.”
Meanwhile Senator Duncan also criticized longstanding concession agreements, citing iron ore mining in Nimba and Sinoe counties and gold exports that generate billions of dollars annually, yet leave Liberia with minimal revenue due to low royalty rates.
He alleged that in one year alone, nearly one billion US dollars’ worth of gold left the country, while Liberia reportedly received less than 30 million dollars in return. “With royalties as low as three percent, the Liberian people remain cheated,” he said.
He further referenced a newly signed concession agreement granting a foreign company up to 30 years to mine gold deposits estimated at tens of billions of dollars, questioning what ordinary Liberians would gain from such deals.
According to him, beyond resource exploitation,he argued that Liberia’s political challenges are rooted in history and a lack of civic education. He traced the problem to the country’s past, including the one-party state era and years of military rule, which, he said, denied Liberians the experience of true democratic choice.
“Many of us do not vote based on policies or courage,” he stated. “We vote based on party colors, crowds, and emotions,and later we are disappointed.”
He referenced past administrations, noting that many leaders received overwhelming electoral support but later failed to improve living conditions. According to him, repeated disappointment is the result of electing leaders who refuse to reform policies governing Liberia’s resources.
However,the senator accused successive governments of lacking the courage to renegotiate concession agreements or demand fair partnerships.
“Our leaders are afraid to look international partners in the eye and say, ‘Stop exploiting our people.’ Until we demand agreements that are 50–50, 60–40, or invest in training Liberians to mine our own resources, nothing will change.”
He added that despite national budgets exceeding one billion dollars, ordinary citizens see little benefit at the community level.
At the same time, the Sinoe County senator urged Liberians to change how they vote and to support leaders who are willing to confront exploitation and defend national interests.
“You can continue voting the same way if you choose,” he warned. “But as long as our resources are taken freely,our iron ore, gold, forests, you will remain poor.”
He called on citizens to open their eyes, learn from history, and elect leaders who will fight for fair resource policies and genuine economic transformation.
“Liberia does not need more promises,” he concluded. “Liberia needs brave people.”
