President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has unequivocally, in a very public manner on the world stage stated his Government’s position on the use of the railway between Yekepa and the Buchanan Port, and all other railways for that matter. At the recently ended annual US-Africa Business Summit held between May 6-9 in Dallas Texas, President Boakai spoke at a forum in which he made it explicitly clear that ArcelorMittal, which since 2005 has had complete dominance and control of the railway corridor between Buchanan Port and its operations in Yekepa will no longer have that exclusive right to operate and control such a crucial national asset. He made the comments while seated right next to Mr. Joe Mathews, a Senior Executive with ArcelorMittal who also once headed AML in Liberia. He openly called for multi-user access under well-established international best practices and standards. Such standards typically include an independent operator, under a regulatory framework determined by the Government of the country or a designated Rail Authority.
This is a game-changer for Liberia in that long gone are the days when a single mining company will be allowed to use such a strategic economic development infrastructure and asset solely for its purposes and keep other sectors and industries out of it. The President in his remarks referred to the once active and busy Yekepa as a “ghost town” that despite the presence of Arcelor Mittal for the past eighteen years is a city with “nothing to show.” Today, if one takes a look at the Bong Mines rail that went from Bong Mines to the Freeport of Liberia and is now under China Union, or the rail that once went from Bomi Hills, those assets are all virtually useless and in most cases dormant infrastructure. The President is very right to call for multi-user rail infrastructure and preferably under an independent operator, to ensure fair access for other users, as well as the long term sustainability and economic viability of the rail. Our rails should be used for everything from movement of passengers, freight, agriculture, etc.
AML and others like it are mining companies, not railway operators, so let them focus on their mining operations and leave national infrastructure such as rails and ports under the ultimate control of the Government to ensure that multiple industries can access those assets fairly and equitably. The Government in 2005 made a grave mistake of allowing AML full and exclusive control over the rail, once it was repaired by them for their operations. The rail was built over 50 years ago by LAMCO in partnership with the Government and is not a privately owned asset. We applaud President Boakai in correcting that serious error. Notwithstanding, AML should also have the same fair user access to the rail just like any other company, but they should not be able to control it to the detriment of other users. On that issue, we stand with President Boakai.
This was one of the crucial issues raised by the 54th National Legislature in a letter from former House Speaker Bhofal Chambers rejecting the proposed third amendment to AML’s Mineral Development Agreement (MDA). President Boakai’s actions at the Summit are also consistent with principles of a multi-user rail system outlined in Executive Order 112 issued in October 2022 by his predecessor, and widely endorsed by the U.S Embassy near Monrovia in a press release—although the previous Administration never really implemented its own Executive Order.
As Liberia explores other investment opportunities such as the well-publicized Liberty Corridor project by HPX and the Guma Africa Group, the importance of a multi-user framework that is fair to all parties and that allows for other sectors of the economy beyond just mining, is important for Liberia and is in the right direction. We therefore call on President Boakai to codify his ideas into law and introduce real legislation to ensure that multi-user access to important public infrastructure is never again allowed to be snugged into any concession agreement for the benefit of just a single company in a single industry. We support His Excellency and echo his sentiments that this is no longer business as usual!
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I hundred 100% in support of this executive order 112.
Great idea Mr President. If we can have this for human transportation, agriculture, and local businesses moving through this will also help the movement of our people to areas where motor vehicles can not reach to assist other businesses. Once again we look forward to seeing that🙏🏿
I must applause the president for this beautiful steps he had taken to revamp our country Economy 👏.
I hope Mr president 🙏 will extend this to the cement industry as well, in order for a ordinary person to be able to build her ojawn house at a low cost,
Thanks Mr President, this is a new Liberia 🇱🇷.
Mr President you are very correct on this railway issue, I had the same thought about this railway that is been used only by AML .we stand to benefit nothing from that company with others mining companies using it’s, we will receive a lot of money in benefiting from it. “Think Liberia built Liberia and Love Liberia”
This is welcoming as this will invite companies that will create job facilities for liberian citizens.
I’m so grateful to the Liberian people for jointly helping to elect a leader who will always think his people for even The next generation to come.
Yes Others companies have to used this railroad for the benefit of the ordinary Liberian people not just a single company. The president in his wisdom is trying to help deliver our country from the hand of those wicked decision makers. Thanks God my vote never wasted by electing, JNB is a proud to my life.
James c numaryan
I personally appreciate president Boakai for that bold step in rescuing our nation.
These are the things that have and is continuing to drag this country into extreme poverty, when we are not even equal to the population of Lagos, in Nigeria. I mean just a Capital City of a country. AML might have arranged with some top Government officials during the beginning of their operation in the country to Grant them authority solely to manage the rail and they bribed with millions of dollars to those officials and they forget about poor people continue being in poverty while they enriching themselves and their families, Wow!!?
This is the right step in the right direction. The president was also right about Yekepa been a ghost town. In fact, AML workers are living in containers because the company doesn’t want to renovate existing structures. Even the road from Sanniquellie to Yekepa is still as bumpy as ever.
So the President is on the right path.
Great ideas, we are grateful for this update
I agree hundred % with President Joseph N Boakai on the Railway Reform Sustainable Infrastructure because it is in the good interest of the country and it’s citizens.
Bravo Mr. President
This clearly indicates that there is business as usual. Investors typically enter our country and should adhere to our principles and laws, aiming to achieve sustainable development that will benefit all cities in the nation.
This is the reason why some of us were crying for a mature leader like JNB.
Thanks for the education because some people couldn’t understand at all.
I pray that everything you have said should come to pass.
More needs to be done
Let me use this medium to congratulate Mr President, for his farsightedness and vision for the mother land. Indeed, no business as usual.
It is hard time that our country national budget move into a billions, infrastructure development, and growth. Thanks president Biokai!
Great. The article looks interesting, indeed Liberia is moving towards economics growth and stability. Thanks to His Excellency Boakai for looking through such direction that is about to make significant impacts in our society.
I must comment the president on this remarkable oversight,and insight, but questions might arise like will the government and AML go over there rail usage agreement 🤝 signed by the government of Liberia and AML?
Can the president also look into AMP terminal user agreement of the Freeport of Monrovia because like the rail usage the government of Liberia give this company exclusive rights over that potion of the port.
Can that agreement be amended as well?
I highly appreciate being part of this platform to fully follow up with National development information okay.
Thanks highly again.
Father GOD bless our president JNB💪😂 and bless our state. 🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷💖💖💖💖💖💖
Thanks to His Excellency President Dr. JNB for such bold steps taken to help Mama Liberia look better again. Many businesses in Liberia are monopolized, and I advise the President to also step in to demonopolize them. For example, importers of Motorbikes and tricycles in our Country. Liberia deserves better and I pray that the motherland shines again under the vibrant leadership of Mr. Boakai
Thanks to our president for the broad steps taken. AML has been operating their own way. We pray to more good things.
Thank you Mr President,
The rail road is a national asset and must be given keen attention for the benefits of all Liberian 🙏🏽
I agree with it
Thanks to the government of the republic of Liberia.
This is a great idea.
Thanks to President Boakai for this great move.