By Henry Gboluma with the Liberia Forest Media Watch
GBARYARSUE TOWN, Korninga Chiefdom [April 10,2025] – A community in Korninga Chiefdom, Gbarpolu County says it is uncomfortable to work with a mining company in their area.
In a town hall meeting, residents of the Gbaryarsue Town voiced out their concerns based on the hasty manner the Chinese-backed mining company in their community was conducting business
During the meeting, local leaders of the area informed Representative Mustapha Waritay, the Secretary of the Gbarpolu County Legislative Caucus, about their unwillingness to work with the Chinese backed company, Cosmos, because it did not have a mining license and the community does not know its mining records.
“How can we enter into an MoU without knowing where they are allowed to mine? We deserve to know to help us inform our people before signing MOU,” said Amos Flomo, town chief of Gbaryarsue.
In response, the manager of Cosmo, Timothy Suah, said the company had only secured a payment receipt from the Ministry of Mines and Energy for their license and did not have operational license.
“We are committed to following all regulations; our documents will be ready before we sign the MOU,” Suah said to townspeople at the meeting.
The youth representatives of Henry Town, Moses Benda and Morris Dennis said they were concerned about the company’s rapid activities in the community in the absence of its mining permit.
“We have heard rumors that mining has already begun,” said Representative Waritay during a visit on April 8, 2025. “However, we will not allow any work until the MoU is signed. We need to ensure the community is involved,” Warity vowed.
Concerns over the operations of Cosmos are coming at the back of a recent meeting held by the Ministry of Mines and Energy which revealed that mining activities in Gbaryarsue had been halted due to conflicting ownership claims.
A mining agent in the area is alleged of mistakenly issuing multiple licenses for the same area, leading to the suspension of mining activities in the area until a thorough investigation is concluded.
Cosmos has advanced in the construction of its camp which now stands at 65% and has transported nearly all necessary equipment to its proposed mining site.
In response to the community’s concerns, Cosmos Manager, Suah said, “We are all Liberian citizens. The MoU is in your hands. We need your input to make this work.”
He reaffirmed the company’s dedication to cooperating with the community, offering assurances that the operations of the company will not commence without the community’s consent.
Despite these reassurances, residents remain apprehensive based on several past illegal mining activities in the county.
“What happens if the company doesn’t agree with the terms we propose in the MoU?,” a concerned local youth leader questioned the unpleasant acts of the company.
In the wake of all the clarities, fear of exploitation looms large, as the community grapples with the implications of unregulated mining in their territory.
As investigations by the Ministry of Mines and Energy continue, the people of Korninga Chiefdom stand united, demanding transparency and respect for their rights before any further mining activities commence, specifically in Gbaryarsue Town.
Located about an hour’s drive from Henry Town in Bopolu District, Gbaryarsue Town is situated in a gold rich region in Gbarpolu County.
Mining communities across Liberia had and continue to face challenges of fairly benefiting their God’s given resources with companies’ operations marred by protests over benefits and employment.
