Published: December 8, 2025
CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia — The Liberian Senate on Monday abruptly postponed its highly anticipated public hearing on the Ivanhoe Atlantic Inc. (HPX) concession agreement after lawmakers objected to what they called the “improper” representation of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP).
The decision came minutes after the Joint Committee on Transport and Concession—chaired by Montserrado County Senator Saah H. Joseph—called for a five-minute recess to determine whether a junior Finance Ministry official could participate in such a critical proceeding.
A Hearing That Didn’t Happen
The hearing, convened in the Senate’s main chamber, brought together members of the joint committee along with representatives from the Liberia Revenue Authority, the National Investment Commission, and the Ministries of Finance and Justice. All witnesses had already taken oath when tensions erupted.
But the scrutiny intensified when Nimba County Senator Samuel G. Kogar objected to the presence of Assistant Minister for Revenue and Tax Policy Andrew Ngollie, insisting the Senate had summoned only senior officials — specifically Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs Anthony Myers.
“This is a very serious legislative matter,” Kogar said. “If some of you are giving credence to that, I’m not. The Senate formally invited senior government officials — Deputy Ministers or Ministers proper. The Ministry of Finance sent a junior minister to come and sit here?”
Maryland County Senator J. Gbleh-bo Brown pressed further: “Can we find out what is the portfolio of the man representing the Deputy Minister here?”
“I am the Assistant Minister for Revenue and Tax Policy,” Ngollie responded, adding that Myers was absent due to “abrupt illness.” Asked whether he had written authorization to represent the ministry, Ngollie said he had brought such documentation.
‘We Need the People Who Signed the Document’
Grand Kru County Senator Numene T. H. Bartekwa, co-chairing the hearing, said he was “deeply disappointed” by the absence of the deputy minister, stressing that only individuals with decision-making authority should appear for a matter of such national significance.
Grand Gedeh County Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely then raised the agreement document before the chamber.
“This document from the IMCC does not have the initial or signature of any assistant minister,” he said. “We are looking for people who have read and signed this document. If they’re not here, I don’t see the reason why we should proceed.”
As more senators voiced concern, tensions escalated until Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon called for a brief recess, bringing the hearing to an abrupt stop.
Hearing Postponed — Again
When the committee reconvened, Senator Saah H. Joseph announced a postponement.
“The Minister is supposed to be here, so on that note, the body has agreed to postpone the hearing to Thursday, December 11,” Joseph declared.
Sen. Dillon also instructed Transport Minister Sirleaf Tyler to provide all relevant documents to the Senate—30 copies—before Thursday’s continuation of the hearing.
Public Left Wondering
The sudden breakdown of the long-awaited HPX concession hearing and the absence of key Finance Ministry officials have heightened public scrutiny, fueling questions about the seriousness with which the government is approaching negotiations over one of the country’s most consequential investment agreements.
Many observers who followed the process noted that the Senate’s insistence on the presence of senior officials underscores growing legislative frustration over the handling of major concession matters.
The HPX hearing is expected to resume Thursday — but only if the full slate of responsible officials appears.
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