Alleged Illegal Mining Company in Lofa County Forest, Citizens Alarm as They Alert Nat’l Government for Intervention

By: J. Mason Kollie ‎| Lofa Correspondent

Betibah Town, Voinjama District, Lofa County |April 16, 2026|Report from Betibah Town, Voinjama district says, residents are demanding the outright departure of a mining company without permit and other proper documentations as well as formal memorandum of understanding, currently mining gold and other kinds of precious minerals in the area.

The people Betibah are of the view that the company is operating illegally with nothing to show or prove. Thus, they believe this is wrong and unacceptable and want local authority and national government to immediately intervene in the present onslaught in their forest without any formal arrangement or MOU with residents living in the area.

According to community members and local chiefs in the town and its environs, the company, identified as “Sprout Global Mining Ventures Incorporated”; (also known as Hongshen Mining Inc.), initially approached the community some time ago to conduct exploratory activities for commercially viable gold deposits.

Furthermore, some residents have alleged that the Hongshen Mining Incorporated failed to produce key regulatory documents, including proof of business registration, valid mining licenses, and an environmental impact assessment report.

Community members disclosed that there was a meeting convened and those in attendance, reached a clear consensus that no agreement would be signed without a thorough review by a duly constituted mining committee representing the people of Betibah Town.

It is also alleged that Superintendent J. Lavelah Massaquoi and Voinjama District Commissioner David Mawolo signed a local MOU with the company, but this media didn’t see the MOU.

Moreover, testimonies gathered during an independent investigation suggest that the presence of Hongshen Mining in the area may have been influenced by county political leadership, including Senator Momo Cyrus.

The Association of Betibah Citizens formally raised strong objections with county authorities over how the MOU was formulated and signed. A high-level meeting was subsequently convened, during which officials reportedly agreed to suspend all mining activities pending resolution of outstanding concerns.

The citizens’ association has also presented a proposed roadmap to ensure any future agreement is legally sound, transparent, and genuinely representative of the community’s interests. Further developments are expected as the suspension remains in effect.

When contacted, Senator Momo Cyrus described the allegations as a distraction. He said he had repeatedly warned the people of Betibah not to sign any MOU without his input, but they did so anyway.

Senator Cyrus added that he has requested a copy of the MOU from the community, though he has yet to receive one. He said he has also requested all relevant mining documents from the Ministry of Mines and is ready to stop all illegal mining activities in Lofa.

Commissioner David Mawolo, for his part, said people often shift blame to those in authority even when they have no knowledge of the matter. He denied any involvement in illegal mining.

The Superintendent of Lofa has not responded to our request for comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, the alleged Illegal mining company continues her operation in Betibah Town, taking away the natural resources as investigation by relevant authority.