Africa-Press – Liberia. Bong County District #3 Representative J. Marvin Cole has raised fresh concerns over illegal mining activities in Jackson Village, Gbarmue Community, calling on national authorities to take immediate action.
In a formal complaint submitted to Mines and Energy Minister Wilmot Paye on March 28, 2025, Rep. Cole warned that unauthorized mining operations are exploiting the area’s rich mineral resources while depriving both the local community and the nation of critical revenue.
“These miners are depriving our community and the Republic of Liberia of its just revenue,” Rep. Cole stated in his letter. “These revenues could have been serious contributing factors to our already broken economy.”
The embattled chairman of the House Committee on Rules, Order and Administration also underscored the broader impacts of illegal mining, cautioning that unchecked activities threaten local development, degrade the environment, and undermine the government’s efforts to rebuild Liberia’s struggling economy.
“The continued allowance of such unauthorized activities not only undermines community development but also hampers our collective national agenda to rebuild the economy,” he emphasized.
The Gbarnga Mining District, particularly the Jackson Village area, is known for its abundant mineral deposits. However, it has long struggled with the challenges of illegal and unregulated mining. Residents and community leaders have frequently voiced concerns about environmental damage, the erosion of livelihoods, and the lack of tangible benefits from the mining boom.
Rep. Cole’s latest action reflects mounting frustration among Bong County leaders over what they see as weak enforcement by national authorities in rural mining zones. His call for swift intervention has been welcomed by local stakeholders, who hope it will prompt decisive action from the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
As of press time, the Ministry has yet to publicly respond to Rep. Cole’s complaint or outline specific steps to address the situation in Jackson Village.
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