Published: June 25, 2025
CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – Grand Kru County Senator Numene T.H. Bartekwa is urging the Liberian Senate to terminate the concession agreement with Atlantic Resources, accusing the company of abandoning its logging operations since 2016 and stalling development in affected areas.
Speaking during Tuesday’s session, Bartekwa, who chairs the Senate Committee on Concessions and Investments, called for the de-rectification of the 2009 agreement to allow space for new investors to take over.
“Since 2016, the company abandoned its concession areas and left the county,” Bartekwa told his colleagues. “All efforts by the county administration and legislative caucus to encourage continuation of their operations have failed.”
Background of the Agreement
The concession agreement, signed between Atlantic Resources and the Liberian government in 2009, granted the company rights to conduct logging operations in Grand Kru and Sinoe counties. While operations began shortly after the agreement was ratified, Bartekwa said the company ceased all activities in Grand Kru in 2016 and has shown no sign of returning.
Bartekwa accused the company of willfully neglecting the forest areas under its control and ignoring repeated communications from county authorities and lawmakers.
“Having demonstrated enough evidence of their disinterest in continuing operations, we call on the Senate to de-rectify the agreement so that other interested investors can come in,” he said. “This is the assistance the people of Grand Kru want.”
Impact on Development
According to the senator, the company’s failure to fulfill its obligations has left valuable natural resources idle and deprived the county of critical infrastructure and services.
“The resources meant for improving citizens’ lives — roads, health, education, and more — have been abandoned. The county is inaccessible, and development has stalled,” Bartekwa said.
He emphasized the urgency of legislative action, saying the concession no longer serves the interests of the citizens and must be rescinded.
Senate Refers Matter to Committees
Following his plea, the Senate plenary voted to forward Bartekwa’s communication to its Committees on Judiciary, Agriculture, and Concessions, with the Judiciary Committee taking the lead due to the legal implications involved.
The referral followed a motion by Grand Bassa County Senator Gbehzohngar Milton Findley, who stressed the importance of reviewing the agreement thoroughly before making any final decision.
The joint committees are expected to return with recommendations at a later date.
If the Senate acts on Bartekwa’s request, it would mark a rare legislative reversal of a major concession agreement — a move that could open the door for new investors and reignite logging activity in the region.
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