Published: October 24, 2025
CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia — Nimba County Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr., chairman of the Senate Committee on Modernization, has urged full transparency, clear community benefits, and strict accountability in the proposed US$37 million concession and access agreement between the Government of Liberia and Ivanhoe Liberia Ltd.
The 25-year deal, recently signed by the Executive and submitted to the Legislature for ratification, would give Ivanhoe the right to transport iron ore from Guinea through Liberia’s rail and port corridors, a project the Boakai administration says could boost regional trade and infrastructure integration.
“No More Bad or Lopsided Deals”
Speaking at a news conference on Capitol Hill on October 23, Senator Twayen welcomed foreign investment but warned against repeating Liberia’s history of unbalanced concession agreements that, in his words, “undermine the rights and dignity of the Liberian people.”
“The railway and associated infrastructures pass through the heart of our people’s lands in Nimba, where residents have already endured years of environmental degradation, loss of farmland, and displacement without adequate compensation,” he said. “Any agreement that seeks to expand or extend the use of these infrastructures must directly address these historical injustices.”
He insisted that any new deal must include legally binding community-benefit provisions and enforceable environmental safeguards, not vague promises or clauses left to corporate discretion.
“We must ensure this agreement reflects adequate community benefits, clearly stated and legally binding,” Twayen said. “It must also include proper environmental safeguards to protect our lands, rivers, and farmlands.”
Questions Over US$37 Million Payment
Senator Twayen also demanded clarity on a US$37 million payment reportedly made by Ivanhoe to the previous government, a figure referenced in President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s cover letter to lawmakers.
“The Liberian people deserve to know what that payment was for and how it was utilized,” he said. “Accountability must be the foundation of trust in public governance.”
As a member of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget, the Nimba lawmaker further cautioned against prematurely incorporating the anticipated US$10 million and US$15 million payments, linked to legislative ratification and project access, into the draft national budget.
“Doing so would create undue pressure on the Legislature to hastily ratify the agreement, potentially without thorough scrutiny,” he warned. “This must not be allowed.”
Legislature Vows Careful Review
Senator Twayen assured the public that the Legislature would not rush the review process. Every clause, he said, would be examined for its fiscal, social, and environmental implications.
“We will study this agreement, assess its impact, and engage all stakeholders, including local communities, civil society, and experts, to ensure the interests of the Liberian people come first,” he noted.
He also emphasized that a Community Development Fund must be explicitly defined within the contract to guarantee tangible improvements in affected areas.
“Our people deserve concrete, measurable commitments, schools, clinics, roads, and livelihoods, not vague promises,” he said.
Accountability as a National Imperative
Known for his outspoken opposition to unbalanced concession renewals, including the previous ArcelorMittal Liberia mineral development agreement, Senator Twayen reaffirmed his position that Liberia’s natural resources must serve its citizens, not exploit them.
“Liberia can no longer afford to enter into agreements that mortgage our future for short-term gain,” he cautioned. “We must do due diligence, protect our people, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.”
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