By: Henry Gboluma | Gbarpolu Correspondent
Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County |April 18, 2026| The House Committee on Mines and Energy has ordered the temporary closure of BAO CHICO Mining Company after a scathing oversight visit on April 18, 2026, uncovered what lawmakers called “serious violations” of the Mineral Development Agreement signed with the Liberian Government in March 2022.
Led by Committee Chairman Hon. Jeremiah Garwo Sokan Sr., Grand Gedeh County District #1 Representative, the delegation toured BAO CHICO’s two mining plants, extractive areas, and the prefab Chinese camp at the Gokala site. What they found was damning and unnerving.
Company officials at the camp disclosed that 38 Chinese nationals are employed and housed on site. Yet four years into operations, not a single Liberian has been employed by the Chinese company, they admitted.
Worse, the company has no safety department and no human resources department. That means contractors work at their own risk, with no institutional safeguards. The Committee also discovered pollution at the mining plant around Gokala.
At the cleared relocation site, BAO CHICO could not produce a Relocation Action Plan when requested. The Committee instructed the company to submit the plan, detailing the type of houses and facilities it will build in the camp.
Lawmakers also asked about health facilities mandated by the MDA.
In fact, by the end of the tour, BAO CHICO failed to produce any requested report or document. Company staff referred the Committee to the General Manager. The Committee said the General Manager was aware of the visit but refused to attend.
As a result, the Committee on Mines and Energy at the House of Representatives established that the BAO CHICO Mining Company is in “serious violation of the MDA they signed with the Liberian Government in March 2022,” Chairman Sokan stated.
The Committee immediately ordered the company temporarily closed until management meets the Committee on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
Chairman Sokan warned that if the company refuses to meet the House Committee, they will not hesitate to ask the Ministry of Lands and Mines to revoke the company’s mining license.
The demand for accountability is growing. Recently, citizens of Gungbaya demanded government intervention to make sure that the company directly implements the MDA, citing broken promises on jobs, community development, and environmental protection.
Other lawmakers on the oversight team included Representative Anthony Williams, Representative Eugene Kollie, and Representative Jacob Debee.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy was represented by Bopolu District Mining Agent Paul Mulbah and Gbarpolu County Mines Officer Lawrence Gban.
Four years of extraction. Zero Liberian jobs. No safety office. No HR policy. No documents. For the House Committee on Mines and Energy, that is not mining, but impunity.
Keep following for more updates as BAO CHICO faces Monday’s deadline.
