Africa-Press – Liberia. Amidst recent revelations of how much money is realized by foreign investors in the gold mining sector in the country, the Plenary of the Liberian Senate yesterday received a strongly worded bill, entitled: “The Gold Sector Reform Amendment Act of 2026.”
The instrument, jointly submitted by Senators Francis Saidy Dopoh II, of
River Gee County; Nya D. Twayen Jr, of Nimba County, and Johnny K. Kpehe Bong County, seeks to amend the Mining and Minerals Law of 2000 to address critical gaps in the regulation, formalization, and marketing of Liberia’s gold resources.
“Currently, over 70% of the gold sector remains informal, resulting in significant revenue leakage, pervasive smuggling, and limited benefit to the rural communities where these resources are extracted,” the Senators disclosed.
Briefing Legislative reporters at his Capitol Hill office, Senator Dopoh emphasized that the proposed Act introduces a robust governance framework designed to among several recommendations, formalize Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): “By mandating that all artisanal miners organize into cooperatives within 36 months, we aim to eliminate “elite capture” and ensure that mineral rights benefit genuine Liberian entrepreneurs.”
In order to Promote Local Value Addition; The Bill establishes a phased, 5-year transitional period for mandatory local gold refining, ensuring Liberia moves away from the export of raw minerals toward high-value beneficiation.
Enhance Transparency and Traceability
Through the establishment of Licensed Gold Trading Centers (LGTCs) and a national digital gold registry, the State will be equipped to track gold from the pit to the point of export, significantly curbing illicit trade.
Strengthen State Participation
According to the Senators article, the proposed Bill establishes the National Gold Company of Liberia (NGCL) to manage state equity and provide a transparent vehicle for government participation in the gold value chain.
Safeguard the Environment and Communities
With regard to safeguarding the environment, the bill, when passed, provides a clear 3-year timeline for the phase-out of toxic mercury and mandates standardized Community Development Agreements (CDAs) to ensure mining wealth is shared with the people.
“This Bill is policy-ambitious and aims to transition our mineral sector from a mere vision of reform into an enforceable governance system. We believe that its passage will strengthen our foreign exchange reserves, create thousands of jobs in refining and trading, and secure the national wealth for future generations,” the Senators assured their colleagues.
With a thorough scrutiny through detailed technical hearings, the Senators re-emphasized that the country will be saved from the sustained exploitation of the natural resources, especially the gold sector that is denying the citizens their rightful dividend.
“We therefore request that this Bill be placed on the Floor for its first reading and subsequently referred to the relevant Committees for detailed scrutiny and technical hearings.”
The instrument was sent to the Senate’s relevant committees to commence immediate action and report to plenary upon its return in May.
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