Africa-Press – Liberia. Selekpoh (left) contends that Senator Twayen, who has become increasingly unpopular in less than a year, is using AML as a scapegoat to regain favor with the public.
Prominent Nimba County activist Armstrong Gobac Selekpoh has strongly criticized Senator Nya Twayen’s recent comments about ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), calling them “dishonest and deceitful.”
Senator Twayen had accused AML of failing to honor its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with Liberia during a news conference on Tuesday.
Selekpoh contends that Senator Twayen, who has become increasingly unpopular in less than a year, is using AML as a scapegoat to regain favor with the public.
He suggests that the senator perceives the current Nimba County Superintendent as a threat to his senatorial seat, particularly as the superintendent has been mobilizing the people of Nimba to ensure their views are included in the new MDA. Selekpoh believes this has unsettled Senator Twayen, prompting him to attack AML.
Reflecting on Senator Twayen’s tenure at NASSCORP, Selekpoh states, “In all his years with the government, Nya was at NASSCORP never attended any meeting concerning concession, and never supported any student group or community development initiatives.”
He further recalls that in July 2013, Senator Twayen defended the government’s decision to seize the Nimba County social development fund to compensate for destruction caused by citizens, describing this period as when the senator was “milking free money.”
Selekpoh also criticizes Senator Twayen for disregarding the nearly 10,000 jobs created by AML. He asserts, “Nya doesn’t care about the nearly 10,000 jobs created by AML now but he is bent on pushing the company out of Liberia by his shameful comments yesterday.”
Highlighting AML’s contributions to the community, Selekpoh points out that the company recently administered laboratory tests to about 1,000 youths from the fenceline communities. From the results, some youths will be going directly to vocational training centers, while about 80+ are being processed for the Advanced Development Training program, and 150 are being recruited directly for various jobs that were previously difficult to obtain.
Selekpoh questions what will happen to the Nimba University if AML were to leave, asking, “Who will give $50,000 to support the Nimba University annually when ArcelorMittal Liberia leaves?” He also notes that AML has sent employees abroad for medical treatment in countries like India, as such services are not available locally. Over the past year, more than 10 employees have benefited from this initiative.
Selekpoh describes Senator Twayen as a “failing politician” who aims to distract or disrupt the ongoing negotiations between the government and AML. He commends AML for fulfilling 14 of the 21 commitments under the MDA and making substantial progress on six others, such as regular reporting, 58% local procurement, adequate medical care, and overseas training for 54 staff members.
He added, “We are not saying that we are against people who talk against ArcelorMittal, but no serious senator who wants development in his county will dismiss such an investment as nothing.”
Senator Twayen’s criticisms of AML came shortly after President Joseph Boakai and ArcelorMittal Executive Chairman Lakshmi Mittal dedicated Liberia’s and West Africa’s first iron ore concentrator, a part of the company’s phase two expansion project. This $2 billion project is expected to create approximately 5,000 local jobs and includes new investments in rail, port, processing, and training.
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