Chamber of Mines Pledges Support For New Task Force Targeting Illicit Operations

Published: June 29, 2026

MONROVIA — The Liberia Chamber of Mines has thrown its support behind President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s decision to create a national body to confront illegal mining, calling the move a long-overdue step toward protecting the country’s mineral wealth.

In a statement signed by its president, Amara Kamara, the Chamber welcomed Executive Order No. 167, which establishes the National Task Force to Combat Illicit Mining Activities. The group described the order as a decisive show of leadership and said it reflected the government’s commitment to the rule of law and a more transparent mining sector.

Kamara said illicit mining remains one of the gravest threats facing Liberia’s extractive industry, draining public revenue, discouraging legitimate investment and accelerating environmental damage. He said the practice also carries a heavy social toll, contributing to school dropouts, insecurity in mining communities and the loss of farmland and water sources.

“When illicit mining flourishes, no one truly benefits,” Kamara said in the statement. He said a small number of people might see short-term gains while the country absorbs long-term losses through lost revenue and weakened investor confidence.

The Chamber said it had repeatedly pressed for tougher action against illegal operators and viewed the executive order as a timely measure to restore accountability to the sector. It said illicit mining should be treated not as an industry problem alone but as a national development challenge requiring a coordinated response.

The group pledged to work with the task force, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, licensed companies, local authorities, traditional leaders, civil society and affected communities to carry out the order. It called for sustained enforcement of mining laws, broader public awareness and stronger community engagement to eliminate the practice.

“Liberia must not continue to lose its valuable mineral wealth to illicit mining,” the statement said.

The Chamber, which describes itself as the voice of the country’s mining industry, said it remained committed to supporting government efforts to attract legitimate investment and create jobs in the sector.