The Minister of Mines and Energy, Wilmot Paye, has sent out a clarion call on members and officials of the Gold and Diamond Brokers, as well as Dealers who export minerals out of the Country that God cannot destine any country to poverty and in return endow them with precious minerals.
With Liberia being no exception among countries with some of the world’s most needed mineral resources, the Mines and Energy Minister asserts that the Country had, and still has, a big opportunity to account for its own development only when proper regulations and sustainability regimes are put in place and followed to the fullest.
He ws speaking Thursday, February 27, 2025, at intercessory programs which was also meant to promote reconciliation amongst members and officials of the Gold and Diamond Brokers, and Dealers Associations in central Monrovia.
According to Minister Paye, when the appropriate measures are put in place, the mining sector has the potential to produce funds needed to solve Liberia’s energy problems; pinpointing electricity, while he believes that given the potential and capacity of the mineral sector, it can generate funds needed to ensure a vibrant health sector and also service other cross-cutting national development priorities.
But, the Minister noted that in order to achieve such economic freedom and break away from foreign aid or donor dependency, the Ministry (MME) and Government at large, need collaborative efforts from the Miners, Brokers, Dealers and every Liberian residing in various parts of the Country.
In that light, he assured the assembled gathering of Brokers and Dealers that they should not be worried about political will because he said, the President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has maintained countless times that he [President Boakai] has no vested interest whatsoever, in any mining operations in the Country.
Hence, Paye intoned that his administration has the marching order to streamline the sector and make sure those involved with mineral extraction here are in full compliance.
He entreated the Miners, Brokers and Dealers to come to this business arena with utmost honesty and willingness to be law abiding, while also calling on community residents across the Country to discourage all forms of illicit and illegal mining which only byproduct is exploitation and =abuse of the mineral resources meant to support national development.
Minister Wilmot Paye used the intercessory and reconcilation program of the Brokers and Dealers to inform them of his administration’s plan, this year, to convene a National Mineral Conference expected to be convened in Monrovia to solicit the collective inputs of all mineral sector actors and citizens alike in determining the best way possible moving forward for Liberia’s mineral resources to be mined, processed and produced industrially to better benefit the country and its citizens, instead of continuing with the current system of every mineral leaving the Country with no reserve for future prosperity.
The day-long program was graced by religious leaders of various faiths, mostly Imams, and Pastors, the national traditional council of Chief and Elders, and private citizens who stopped by to grace the program. Diamond Dealers President, Mustapha Tunkara, in brief remarks, called for unity and harmonious coexistence amongst Brokers, and Dealers.
He stressed the importance of non-political mindset and approaches in their business activities in the mineral sector, if they must be positive contributors to the economy.
