By K. Ericson Sayee
MONROVIA, June 24 (LINA) – In a quest to expand the country’s economy and provide a policy guide for Liberia’s natural mineral resources, the House of Representatives, (HOR) has discussed the significance of creating a policy guide that will protect and provide enormous benefits for the country and its people.
The House delved into a lengthy debate centered around finding a way to establish a law which will directly benefit Liberians, expand the country’s economy and create avenues for job opportunities for the citizens, noting that this move, which will be in consultation with the executive, will widen the economy and provide job opportunities for the Liberian people.
During the regular session of the House on Thursday, June 18, 2026, Montserrado County District #16 Rep. Dixon Seboe, who wrote the Speaker, said Liberia is endowed with significant natural resources, yet the country continues to face perennial challenges, while countries with lesser natural resources are making huge progress in terms of their economy.
He added that for the people of Liberia to experience mass developments, there must be a significant expansion of the economy, and for this to be achieved, the mineral resources should be used wisely, not the manner and form in which they have been used, as companies exploding the sector benefit more while the country benefits less.
Most of the companies, according to him, that extract mineral resources give the country three percent royalty –something the lawmaker says the country should no longer condone if Liberia will make progress in development and resolve unemployment.
He recommends a new chapter in the sector, calling for the raw materials to begin to be manufactured in the country instead of being shipped to other countries.
When it was opened for legislative debate, lawmakers noted that the country’s mineral resources should not continue to leave the country in raw materials, but rather companies should be mandated to construct factories for production, which, according to them, will expand the country’s economy, provide job opportunities, and provide other significant opportunities for the country.
The Liberian legislators say other countries are benefiting from their natural resources by providing immense opportunities for their people, expanding their economy and infrastructure.
According to the lawmakers, there is a need for Liberia to emulate those countries that are utilizing their resources.
After the lengthy debate, Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon added to the discourse that the legislature will explore means to have the matter resolved to benefit the country and people.
He therefore named a 15-member committee that will be tasked with the responsibility to craft the policy on the country’s natural mineral resources that restrict and benefit the people.
Of the 15-member, the Speaker said four members each will travel between July and October to Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, and three members will travel to Senegal, and upon their return, they are expected to conglomerate their experiences to be reported to plenary in the first week in October, when the House returns from break.
Those named on the Committee include Reps. Ernest Manseah, Chair, Sam P. Jallah, Co-Chair, Dixon Seboe, Foday Fahnbulleh, Jeremiah Sokan, Frank Saah Foko, Jacob Debee, Gizzie Kollince, Nyan Flomo, Ellen Attoh-Wreh, Alex Joe Grant, Rugie Barry, Dorwohn Gleekia, Moima Briggs-Mensah, and Gbessie Sonii Feika.
“From July to October, the Committee will travel to four countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda and Senegal. The committee will be divided into four segments”, the Speaker disclosed.
The House of Representatives in its majority vowed to get to the core of the matter of ensuring that the natural resources of Liberia benefit the country as it does to Liberia’s counterparts.