The research was part of key activities under the project titled: “Land Rights and Mining: Towards sustainable and participatory mining for communities”, and it focused on three counties - Nimba, Bong & Gbarpolu. It draws on the passage of the Land Rights Act (LRA) of 2018 and suggests that its full implementation would translate into respect of community rights and thereby significantly improving the mining licensing process, enhance citizens’ participation, and optimize benefits for mining-affected communities.

 

The ceremony held at the Corina Hotel today, June 21, 2022 brought together key stakeholders including the Government, CSOs, representatives of GIZ and the United States Embassy amongst others.

The research report was officially launched by the Chairman of the Board of Director of CENTAL and Dean of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia (UL), Cllr. T. Negbalee Warner.

The report recommended among other things that: there is a compelling need for coordination between government ministries and agencies involved with the mining sector including, but not limited to - the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Liberia Land Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Forestry Development Authority etc.; any new mining law must draw essentially from the Liberia Revenue Act and other related laws in order to avoid conflict. the law must also provide clear redress mechanisms for communities dissatisfied with actions taken by the Ministry of Mines and Energy; participation of citizens, while guaranteed by law, can only be meaningful if they possess required knowledge around the subject matter among others.