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January 7, 2019

Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
Press Statement Marking the Launch of the 9th EITI Report for Liberia

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Fourth Estate!
We’ve called you here today on behalf of the Multi-stakeholders Steering Group (MSG) of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) and the Government of the Republic of Liberia to formally launch the 9th EITI Report for Liberia.
As part of the Requirements for an implementing country, publication of the EITI Report is one of the core functions of LEITI, and it requires public disclosure of revenue and tax payment data from the extractive sector. This is intended to promote transparent resource management, good governance and ensure that Liberians benefit from the proceeds of their resources.
The 9th Report, commissioned by the MSG on November 24, 2017 and prepared by Parker & Company LLC of Liberia in association with Moore Stephens LLP of the United Kingdom, contains reconciled accounts of payments made to, and revenues received by the Government of Liberia from the oil, mining, forestry and agricultural companies during the Fiscal Year July 1, 2015 up to and including June 30, 2016.
In this report, data from government agencies show that total revenue generated in the extractive industries after reconciliation work totaled USD$66.37 Million during the FY 2015/16.
Direct government revenue from the extractive sector decreased from USD$100.73 Million in FY 2014/2015 to USD$56.4 Million in the FY 2015/16. This decrease is due to many factors to include the fall in prices on the global market of Liberia’s major export commodities.
Moreover, in this report, companies records show that a total of USD$62, 481,551 was paid to government, whereas, government acknowledged receipt of USD$54,490,667; thereby creating a discrepancy of USD$7,990,874.

The net discrepancy can be attributed to two factors. Firstly, the Government reported receipts for some companies, but those companies did not submit payment data to the Reconcilers. Secondly, some companies submitted payment data, but the differences could not be reconciled due to lack of adequate information provided to the Reconcilers.
The 9th Report also includes payment data of In-kind Contributions made by extractive companies to the local communities and public institutions; Revenue Tracking, and Amount Due for all fixed amounts.
The preparation of the 9th Report and its launch today is not the end of the campaign. Part of the process is to discuss the findings of the report with the citizens and solicit their views on the recommendations as they are the true owners of the resources. Hence, the launch of the report is expected to be followed by massive dissemination exercises including extensive outreach throughout the fifteen counties of Liberia, once funding is secured. Additionally, the MSG is committed to further reviewing the findings and recommendations of the Report with the aim of identifying areas for policy implementation.
These initiatives are very crucial and cannot be achieved without the participation of all stakeholders of the LEITI process including you members of the press. In your traditional role as Agenda Setters, the LEITI depends on you to raise the platform of the EITI process in Liberia; to create awareness and educate the public on the findings of this Report and other studies done and initiatives undertaken to promote transparent resource management in Liberia. The Report launched today is voluminous, totaling one hundred and forty five pages. Not every member of the public—even the reading public, may have access to a copy or appreciate to read such a volume. Your role is to synthesize the information and educate the public. The LEITI intends to create summarized copies of the report for easy read.
We look forward to a collaborative effort that will ensure increased transparency in the management of the country’s vast natural resources.

Thanks!

President Weah Completes the constitution of the LEITI’s MSG
September 25,2018

As a means of indicating the Government of Liberia’s continuous commitment in fostering transparent resource management through the implementation of the EITI process in Liberia,

President George Manneh Weah, has completed the appointment of the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group (MSG) of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI).

Hon. C. Mike Donyen of the Liberia Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Chairman(MSG)

Hon. Gesler E. Murray representing the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) Co-Chair(MSG) Other nominees appointed to the MSG are:

Mr. Baryou Wallace Liberia Labor Congress Member
Mr. Esiaka B. Konneh Liberia Gold/Diamond Broker & Dealers Association- Member

Mrs.Celecia Danuwieli Publish What You Pay Member

Mr.Daniel Nyankonah, Jr.Press Union of Liberia - Member

Mr.AnsuSekou Konneh Western Cluster Limited - Member

Mr. E. Ekema A. Witherspoon, I Liberia Timber Association Member

Mr. Elvis G. Morris - Golden Veroleum Liberia         -                                   Member

Mr. Eric N. Swen - Arcelor Mittal                         - Member

Mr.Raymond Gwenigale –Firestone Liberia             - Member

The finalization of the constitution of the MSG comes in the wake of the recommendation made by the international EITI secretariat to the Government of Liberia in its suspension notice published on its website on September 6, 2018, which calls for the immediate constitution the MSG in partnership with the civil society and the industries so as to revitalize the implementation of the EITI activities in Liberia.
Early September 2018, the EITI board reached a decision to suspend Liberia from its international body and also refuse to grant Liberia the rights to extend its validation exercise on grounds that the request submitted did not meet the approval of a full functioning MSG. The absent of functioning was one of the facts that dragged Liberia it the current suspension that the country is currently enduring.
However, with this fully legitimate constituted MGS, Liberia can now work its way out of suspension within the timeframe given by the EITI board.

President Weah Requests the Nominations of Civil Society and Private Sector Representatives to the MSG.

In an effort to complete the formulation of the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group(MSG) of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative(LEITI), on Monday, September 17, 2018, the President and Champion of the EITI activities here in Liberia, Amb. George Manneh Weah has requested selected Civil Society Organizations and companies in the Private Sector to nominate their representatives to the MSG.

The President’s action is in accordance with section 6.4 (b and c) of the LEITI ACT of 2009 which calls for the representation of four permanent civil society organizations including the Publish What You Pay or its successor organization to serve on the Civil Society bloc of the MSG as well as the representation of four companies from the Private Sector, with one from each of the sectors being watched over by the LEITI.

The requested organizations include:

Civil Society Organization
Publish What You Pay
Liberia Labor Congress
National Civil Society Network of Liberia
Press Union of Liberia
Liberia Gold and Diamond Association

Private Sector
Golden Veroleum Liberia
Western Cluster Liberia
ArcelorMittal Liberia
Liberia Timber Association
Firestone Liberia

In addition to these nominations,
President Weah has requested at least six additional international organizations to serve as observers to the LEITI MSG. Below listed are the organizations:

Observer

United Nations Development Program(UNDP)
German Technical Cooperation (GIZ)
African Development Bank (AfDB)
European Union (EU)
World Bank(WB)
United States Embassy

Since the end of the tenure of the previous MSG in October of 2017, the body has been unable to convene due to its incompleteness which contravenes section 2.3.4 of the MSG Policy Manual.

The Manual requires that at least two thirds of the membership of each sector represented on the MSG are to be present at all meetings to obtain a quorum.

The formulation of the MSG is a momentous milestone in lifting the suspension of Liberia which was imposed in the early September by the EITI International Board.

GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO LIBERIA’S SUSPENSION BY THE EITI BOARD

Monday, September 10, 2018: The Government of Liberia has received, with surprise and disappointment, the EITI Board’s decision to suspend Liberia for delay in publishing its 9th EITI Report due since June 2016. In its statement suspending Liberia, the EITI Board clearly indicated in paragraph one that, “The EITI Board decided on 4 September 2018 to suspend Liberia for not publishing the EITI Report for the FISCAL PERIOD ENDING JUNE 2016 within the 1 July 2018 deadline.”
The fact that Liberia has missed its deadline for reporting on a 2015/2016 fiscal period which ended in June 2016 cannot be attributed to a 7-month old government. Clearly, the country’s suspension reflects our government’s inability to publish a report covering July 2015 – 2016, two to three years ago.
It is rather unfortunate for our fellow compatriots whose patriotism should invoke nationalistic concerns to jubilantly embark on a misguided information distortion jamboree for the sake of vilifying this new Administration led by President George Manneh Weah. They will never succeed because Liberia is getting back on track as advised in the Board’s communication to the Government.
These anti-nationalistic elements must be reminded that from June 2015 – January 2018 spans a period of one year six months for Liberia to have completed and published its 9th EITI Report. The insinuation that what a previous Government failed to publish in 18 months should be the fault of a 7-month old Government is both unpatriotic, unacceptable and unjustified if not preposterous.
As a Government and People, we like to emphatically state for the record that under President George Manneh Weah, we are committed to the ideals and core values of the EITI and will do everything to ensure compliance for reinstatement. The Government reassures the public that this will happen soon under the able leadership of His Excellency President George Manneh Weah.

President Weah Names Nine-Member Committee; Mandates Review of All Agreements, Contracts with Concessionaires…
February 15, 2018

Liberian President George M. Weah has constituted a Nine-member Special Review Committee to evaluate all concessions/management and other Agreements including contracts entered into by and between the Government of Liberia and Concessionaires and/or Contractors.
According to an Executive Mansion release, the President formed the committee on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 and mandated it to review and ensure that all contracts entered into by the Government of Liberia and Concessionaires are executed according to agreed principles in accordance with the Laws of Liberia. Read More

LEITI HOLDS TECHNICAL WORKSHOP AHEAD OF 9TH REPORT PREPARATION
November 27, 2017

The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) has conducted a one day technical workshop on the submission of payment and revenue data for the 9th EITI Report for Liberia.
Speaking at a well-attended gathering in Paynesville, outside the nation’s capital Monrovia, the Head of the LEITI Secretariat, Mr. Konah Karmo said the EITI process has made tremendous progress on the Country especially in the fight against corruption in the sector noting that scrupulous implementation of the process in the Country has led to the revealing and subsequent closure of’ loop holes of corruption.’ Read more

…. ‘AMPLIFYING OUR VOICES’
July10, 2017
Recently, a three man LEITI team led by Deputy Head of Secretariat Myer W. Saye Sr. left Monrovia for Nimba and Bong Counties to again disseminate the abridged contract matrix. The contract matrix as it is called is a summarized and simplified version of major concession agreements signed between the Government of Liberia and the extractive companies. Other members of the team were Sector Analyst Elijah Kai and Finance Assistant George Dennis. Read more.

LEGISLATURE TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON POST AWARD PROCESS AUDIT REPORT
The lower house of the Liberian legislature will shortly hold a public hearing on the second post award process audit report recently released by the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative(LEITI).
The chairman of the House's Committee on Lands, Mines, Natural resources and Environment recently requested a meeting with the Head of LEITI Secretariat and his technical team aimed at fully understanding the nature of the report and the findings thereof so as to comprehensively seek the necessary solutions..Read more.

LEITI HOLDS DIALOGUE MEETINGS WITH CONCESSION STAKEHOLDERS
The Liberian adage that ‘anything you don’t know is older than you’ recently manifested in Sinoe and Maryland Counties when the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) with support from the Liberia Accountability Voice Initiative (LAVI), a USAID funded project disseminated the simplified version of over twenty six extractive based concession agreements in Liberia. Read more

‘OPEN THE PROCESS TO US’
-BONG AND NIMBA CITIZENS CHALLENGE GOVERNMENT
Liberians in Bong and Nimba Counties are calling for transparency in the distribution of social contributions from concession companies operating in their respective Counties.
On March 6, 2017 until March 20, 2017 a team from the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) lead by its Deputy Head of Secretariat, Mr. Myer W. Saye Sr. visited six concession affected communities in Nimba and Bong Counties for the dissemination of simplified concession agreements signed with the Liberian government over the years. The agreements are all extractive related-mining, agriculture, oil and forestry. Read more.

Snapshot of the LEITI Process

As part of our mission we seek to widely disseminate information to the Liberian people: Review our company database to learn more about the actors in the industry, read our most recent reports, or browse our extensive contract and concession library to view the contracts signed by the Government of Liberia.

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FOR FAILING TO FILE TIMELY DATA, LEITI PUBLISHES NAMES OF DELINQUENT COMPANIES
January 5,2018
The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative has named several companies and a government agency for failing to make timely disclosure of tax payment data to the 9th EITI Report on Liberia.
Eleven Companies and a government agency were listed and published in several local dailies in Monrovia as well as aired on popular radio shows.
Article 4(b) of the LEITI Act of 2009 requires that all extractive companies and covered Government’s ministries and agencies disclose, at least once every year, the data of all payments made and revenues received in respect of the extraction of Liberia’s forest and mineral resources. This initiative is in support of the government’s effort to promote transparency and accountability over the management of revenues from Liberia’s extractive resources, ensuring that all citizens benefit from such resources.
“The preparation of the 9th Report for Liberia is on-going and at the data collection and payments reconciliation stage; and to date, a number of companies and a government agency have failed to submit payment data in both soft and hard copies to the LEITI process for the fiscal year July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. Such delinquency is posing a challenge to the timely completion of the 9th LEITI Report for Liberia.” A statement from the Secretariat read
The Multi-stakeholders Steering Group of the LEITI recently mandated that the names of these companies be published in line with the LEITI Sanction regime, and warns that further punitive actions, including revocation of licenses, will be taken against companies that insist on such non-complaint attitude. Read more

LEITI MAKES DATE WITH HISTORY AS GOVERNMENT PLEDGES SUPPORT
July 2, 2017
The Government of Liberia says it remains committed to resource transparency through the workings of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI).
Finance and Development Planning Minister Boima Kamara pledged the government’s full support to the EITI process in Liberia especially when the Country has been given 18 months to make improvements in areas of the standards that Liberia scored less marks during the July 2016 validation.
The Finance Minister extolled the LEITI for remaining focused on ensuring a transparent and accountable natural resource sector amidst the devastating Ebola crisis in the Country.
Minister Kamara made the statement at the opening of a two day retreat of the Multi-stakeholder Steering Group (MSG) held in Monrovia on May 31st to June 1st, 2017. See gallery The retreat was intended to review the 2015 five year strategic plan of the LEITI aiming to realign the strategy with the new EITI standards. Read More

LEITI REACTS TO RECENT GLOBAL WITNESS REPORT
May 12, 2017
The Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group (MSG) of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) has reacted to a recent Global Witness report alleging illegality of all large contracts in the forestry sector and violation of other laws including the LEITI Act.
The recent Global Witness report on Liberia titled Holding The Line, is built on LEITI’s Beneficial Ownership Disclosure report as well as previous LEITI Reconciliation reports and alleges, among others, the existence of additional names behind the ownership of some forestry companies operating in Liberia which were not disclosed to the LEITI during the preparation of the Beneficial Ownership Disclosure report.
It can be recalled that LEITI released a Beneficial Ownership Report in December 2015 containing the names and particulars of beneficial owners (true owners) or people who have at least five percent shares in companies operating in the mining, oil, forestry and agriculture sectors of Liberia. The Multi-stakeholders Steering Group (MSG) of the LEITI considers these allegations contained in the Global Witness’ report that some companies in the forestry sector have made false declarations about their beneficial owners as serious and grave. Read more

BETHESDA WINS 2017 E-CLUB DEBATE
The Bethesda Christian Mission School (BCMS) in Paynesville along the Roberts field highway emerged as winners of the 2017 edition of the inter high school debate organized by the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI). Read more

VALUE ADDITION IS KEY TO THE EXTRACTIVE SECTOR’
Deputy Minister Zayzay avers
The Deputy Minister for Research and Planning at the Ministry of Internal Affairs is calling on the Liberian government to encourage value addition to extractive resources for the benefit of the people.
Mr. Augustus M. Zayzay says when companies are encouraged to start adding value to the resources locally; more Liberians will be gainfully employed and concession communities will progress. Read more

HOS CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO PUSH FOR TRANSPARENCY
April 26, 2017
The Head of Secretariat of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) has challenged students of the Stella Maris Polytechnic-a local tertiary institution to use their intellectual abilities to push for transparency over the management of the Country’s extractive sector.
Speaking to a cross section of students recently at programs marking the dissemination of the abridged contact matrix at that institution, Mr. Konah D. Karmo cautioned the students to use the material to invoke the required advocacies that will further enhance transparency over the management of the country’s natural resources. Read more.