By G Bennie Bravo Johnson
As the 2030 expiration of the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) draws closer, Nimba County Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr, has issued a blistering statement accusing the multinational mining company – Acelor Mattal of failing to uphold its legal and moral obligations to the people of Nimba and Liberia a large.
In a strongly worded assertion, the senator described the AML’s operations as a “glaring failure” and a “gross betrayal” of trust, stating that the company has reaped billions from Nimba’s soil while leaving behind broken promises, poverty, and dilapidation.
“The people of Nimba—especially those in the directly affected concession areas—have waited in vain for meaningful improvements in their lives. AML boasts of a $1.4 billion infrastructure expansion, yet our people endure substandard living conditions and daily hardships.”
It may be recalled, ArcelorMittal Liberia on Thursday, June 5, 2025, launch
US$1.8 billion concentrator as part of the Phase 2 Expansion Project –
which the company says has reached a transformative stage that
promises to reshape Liberia’s mining industry and deliver lasting economic and social benefits across the country.
However, the launch was met with a huge protestation by hundreds of aggrieved youths – most of whom are citizens of Nimba.
The protesters accused the company of bad labour practice including low salary payment, under employment of Liberian in high administration – and as well accused of payment of low royalty to national Government
Amongst their demand, they urged the company to renovate housing units that left LAMCO to improve the living conditions of employees of the company.
Their demands were enforced by Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr, who cited a string of breaches of the 2007 amended MDA, beginning with AML’s failure to improve the socioeconomic well-being of people living within its concession areas. According to him, despite AML’s nearly two-decade presence in the region, communities in and around Yekepa still lack basic amenities, and people continue to suffer under conditions that contradict the promised benefits of resource extraction.
Senator Twayen Jr, went on to highlight the company’s apparent neglect of housing in Yekepa, once considered one of Liberia’s most beautiful towns. “Yekepa now lies in ruins. AML has done little to restore or improve housing, even as it exports wealth from our soil,” the senator charged.
A major point of contention is AML’s alleged disregard for its commitment to include Liberians in senior management positions. The amended MDA requires that within five years of the agreement, 25% of senior management positions should be held by Liberians, rising to 50% within ten years. It also mandates that one of the company’s top three executives—Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), or Chief Financial Officer (CFO)—must be a Liberian.
“Today, all top AML executives—CEO, CFO, and COO—remain foreign nationals. This is not just a breach of contract; it’s a slap in the face of capable Liberian professionals.”
He named Michiel Vandermerwe (South African) as CEO, Anthony P. Kocken (Australian) as COO, and Conor O’Brien (British) as CFO. He further claimed that only 42% of the senior management team consists of Liberians, falling short of the 50% target mandated by 2017.
The senator also noted that several positions—such as Chief Information Officer, Chief Purchasing Officer, Security Risk Advisor, and Chief of Staff to the CEO—are held by foreigners, even though qualified Liberians are available. He criticized AML for employing expatriates even in mid-level roles like welding supervisors and truck maintenance foremen, which are often supervised by Liberians. “If Liberians are competent to supervise, why aren’t they given these roles in the first place?” he asked.
Another serious breach cited is AML’s failure to meet its scholarship funding obligations. Article 9 of the MDA mandates the company to contribute $200,000 annually toward international scholarships for Liberians. Over 18 years, that amounts to $3.6 million. However, AML’s own 2022 report to the National Investment Commission reveals that payments only began in 2012—five years behind schedule.
“AML’s delay in fulfilling this obligation has robbed hundreds of young Liberians of educational opportunities. Scholarship funding is a legal obligation—not charity. We demand full accountability and restitution of the missing funds.”
He further dismissed AML’s much-publicized $1.4 billion infrastructure investment as deceptive. “The iron ore plant is not an investment in Liberia. It’s made of prefab iron and screws and can be dismantled at any time. It’s designed to enrich AML, not Liberia.”
Citing sources within AML, he claimed that the real cost of the plant is around $550 million, not $1.4 billion as widely claimed. “AML has exaggerated the figures to avoid paying proper taxes and dividends,” the senator alleged “Does it make sense to build a $1.4 billion facility in a region with no paved roads? No.”
He also accused AML of using transfer pricing—a strategy where the company manipulates the prices of goods and services traded within its own subsidiaries—to underreport profits in Liberia. “This denies Liberia the dividends it is owed under the MDA. It’s time AML reports its profits transparently and pays what it owes.”
The senator called on the Government of Liberia, through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Concessions, to ensure that future agreements with AML include specific binding provisions. These, he emphasized, must include the paving of the Sanniquellie-Yekepa road, an increase in the Social Development Fund for affected counties, the restoration of homes in Yekepa instead of erecting container units, the appointment of a Liberian to one of AML’s top three leadership positions, payment of all arrears owed to the scholarship fund, and the establishment of a transparent, monitored fund for scholarships and community development.
He also recommended quarterly public audits of AML’s compliance with the MDA and demanded the abolition of transfer pricing practices along with timely and transparent financial reporting.
“We must not be fooled by billion-dollar headlines meant solely to benefit ore exports. Development must be inclusive, accountable, and rooted in justice.”
“To the people of Nimba and Liberia at large: We must not settle for less than we deserve. The next MDA must reflect the true aspirations of our people and hold AML accountable for its track record. If these demands—especially the nonnegotiable ones—are not met, we will lead the resistance against any renewal with AML.”
