Sen. Bartekwa demands royalty payments, community benefits from sand and rock miners

Published: December 10, 2025

CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – Grand Kru County Senator Numene T. H. Bartekwa is calling for sweeping regulatory action against what he describes as the “uncontrolled and unregulated” mining of sand and quarry rocks nationwide, urging the Liberian Senate to compel mining operators to pay required royalties to the government and direct benefits to affected communities. Bartekwa, who chairs the Senate Committee on Concessions and Investment, said foreign and local operators are extracting Liberia’s industrial resources in large quantities with “no benefit to the government and no compensation to the communities whose lives and environment they disrupt.”

Bartekwa Sounds Alarm Over Resource Depletion Speaking Tuesday, December 9, during a news conference at his Capitol Building office after his communication was read in plenary, Bartekwa expressed frustration over what he called growing exploitation of the sector. “Foreign nationals come into the country, go to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, acquire licenses, and establish industrial centers for sand and rock mining with no benefit to the country in the form of royalty,” Bartekwa stated.

He added that the situation is even more troubling because affected communities receive absolutely nothing, even as mining activities expose residents to health risks and environmental damage. Communities Suffer While Government Loses Revenue Bartekwa said the blasting, noise pollution and movement of heavy trucks have created serious health hazards, damaged community roads, and imposed financial burdens on government to repair infrastructure destroyed by miners. “Sadly, our people continued to suffer from the economic activities of these companies,” he said.

“There is a need for us to act now for the safety of our people.” He urged the Senate to empower its committees to engage the relevant ministries and agencies to ensure all sand and quarry operators pay the appropriate royalties and provide benefits to communities where they operate. Longstanding Problem Gains Senate Attention The senator’s communication underscores years of complaints over commercial sand and rock mining, which has contributed to coastal erosion, road destruction and deepened poverty in affected areas.

Following a motion by Lofa County Senator Joseph K. Jallah, chair of the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency, the communication was forwarded to the Joint Committee on Mines and Energy, Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims and Petitions for investigation and recommendations. The committees are expected to report back to the Senate plenary with findings and proposed actions.