Published: June 19, 2026
MONROVIA – Liberia has launched a digital platform that publishes real-time scores on whether concession companies are honoring their contracts, a tool officials say will arm lawmakers, communities and citizens to hold the extractive sector accountable with facts rather than speculation.
The Digital Extractive Sector Compliance Scorecard Platform, developed by Integrity Watch Liberia with support from the Government of Ireland and in partnership with the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, will provide real-time information on whether concession companies are meeting their contractual obligations.
Speaking at the launch Thursday, June 18, Ireland’s Ambassador to Liberia, Gerard Considine, described the platform as a major advance for transparency in a sector that generates significant government revenue but has historically lacked public access to compliance information. “This platform directly confronts the longstanding governance gap of inaccessible concession information by placing evidence at the center of natural resource governance,” he said. Publicly available compliance scores, he added, will empower lawmakers, oversight institutions, communities and citizens to hold concession companies accountable based on facts.
Mines and Energy Minister Matenokay Tingbeh said Liberia can no longer afford to negotiate resource agreements without fully understanding the value of its natural wealth. “We don’t know what we have. That is why experts come to Liberia, conduct explorations, keep the data and we arrive at negotiation tables negotiating from a position of weakness,” Tingbeh said. He said the government is pursuing a nationwide mineral survey to determine the country’s actual mineral wealth and strengthen its bargaining power in future negotiations.
The minister also raised concerns about mineral smuggling, particularly gold, saying reports suggest the value of smuggled gold may exceed Liberia’s national budget. “I received information that the value of gold smuggled out of Liberia exceeds the country’s national budget. That is why this platform is very important. We need stronger monitoring and accountability,” he said, warning that the government would intensify efforts against illegal mining and mineral trafficking. “We are never going to allow people to continue plundering Liberia’s resources without accountability,” he added.
Sen. Numene Bartekwa, chairman of the Senate Committee on Concessions and Investment, described oversight of concession agreements as one of the Legislature’s most demanding responsibilities. “The companies come here to make profits, and it is our duty to ensure that Liberians receive a fair share of the benefits from their resources,” Bartekwa said. He criticized Liberia’s outdated natural resource laws as no longer reflecting current realities. “We need legal reforms, technical expertise and better information on the actual value of our resources if Liberia is to negotiate better deals,” he said, praising Integrity Watch Liberia for supporting legislative oversight and pledging continued collaboration.
Integrity Watch Liberia Executive Director Harold M. Aidoo said the platform was created to allow government agencies, lawmakers, civil society groups, media institutions, concession companies and ordinary citizens to independently monitor compliance with concession agreements. “The natural resource sector holds the key to transforming our country. Our role as civil society is to ensure that agreements signed by government are respected and implemented,” Aidoo said. He explained that the platform will rely heavily on data from LEITI and, eventually, the National Bureau of Concessions, enabling users to assess company performance across multiple compliance indicators.
Deputy Director-General of the NBC, Cllr. B. Rachell Yaba-Duobah, said limited monitoring capacity and logistical challenges continue to undermine effective oversight of concession operations. “We need stronger collaboration and enforcement mechanisms,” she said, adding that the scorecard will help identify non-compliance and improve the government’s ability to respond.
LEITI Head of Secretariat Jeffery Yates described the platform as a significant step toward meeting international transparency requirements under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. “This is real-time innovation. The information placed on this platform will be verified and evidence-based. It will help improve accountability, strengthen advocacy and promote better relationships between communities and concession companies,” Yates said. He identified government institutions, civil society organizations, concession companies and concession-affected communities as the platform’s primary beneficiaries.
Officials said the initiative is expected to enhance transparency, strengthen oversight and ensure that Liberia’s natural resources deliver greater benefits to its citizens.
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