Monrovia, Liberia; December 3, 2012: The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) have signed an agreement for the establishment of Extractive Clubs in Liberia.
Mark Mattner, the Project Manager for GIZ Resource Governance Project in West Africa signed for the GIZ while Mr. Samson S. Tokpah, Head of Secretariat signed for the LEITI.

Under the agreement, the German Development Cooperation will provide a grant amount of US$24,500 over a six-month period (November 2012-April 2013) to facilitate the establishment of extractive clubs in ten (10) high schools in Monrovia and its environs. The effort is in support of LEITI’s outreach programs aimed at increasing public awareness on activities in the extractive sectors. The project will enable students from participating schools to access knowledge and information on issues relative to the management of Liberia’s natural resources through campus- based activities, including peer-to-peer discussions, lecture series, mentoring and field trips amongst others.

Speaking on behalf of the LEITI during the official signing ceremony on today, in the LEITI’s Conference Room on Capitol Hill, Mr.Tokpah said the initiative is a means of transferring knowledge and skills to the youths on the management of the nation’s extractive resources so that they are able to make prudent decisions when they eventually become leaders in the society. He noted that the project will be piloted in the 10 schools, but LEITI plans on expanding the extractive clubs to other parts of the country once funding is guaranteed.

Mr. Tokpah has further commended the GIZ family and the German Government for their continuous support towards the implementation of the EITI process in Liberia. It can be recalled that the GIZ funded LEITI’s first inter-high school debate in May 2012 during which hundreds of students from four high schools in Monrovia were engaged in discussions on the Country’s extractive resources.

The Extractive Club Project is expected to be launched in December 2012.

Monrovia, Liberia; December 3, 2012: The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) have signed an agreement for the establishment of Extractive Clubs in Liberia.
Mark Mattner, the Project Manager for GIZ Resource Governance Project in West Africa signed for the GIZ while Mr. Samson S. Tokpah, Head of Secretariat signed for the LEITI.

Under the agreement, the German Development Cooperation will provide a grant amount of US$24,500 over a six-month period (November 2012-April 2013) to facilitate the establishment of extractive clubs in ten (10) high schools in Monrovia and its environs. The effort is in support of LEITI’s outreach programs aimed at increasing public awareness on activities in the extractive sectors. The project will enable students from participating schools to access knowledge and information on issues relative to the management of Liberia’s natural resources through campus- based activities, including peer-to-peer discussions, lecture series, mentoring and field trips amongst others.

Speaking on behalf of the LEITI during the official signing ceremony on today, in the LEITI’s Conference Room on Capitol Hill, Mr.Tokpah said the initiative is a means of transferring knowledge and skills to the youths on the management of the nation’s extractive resources so that they are able to make prudent decisions when they eventually become leaders in the society. He noted that the project will be piloted in the 10 schools, but LEITI plans on expanding the extractive clubs to other parts of the country once funding is guaranteed.

Mr. Tokpah has further commended the GIZ family and the German Government for their continuous support towards the implementation of the EITI process in Liberia. It can be recalled that the GIZ funded LEITI’s first inter-high school debate in May 2012 during which hundreds of students from four high schools in Monrovia were engaged in discussions on the Country’s extractive resources.

The Extractive Club Project is expected to be launched in December 2012.

On November 1, 2012, the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) executed a contract with Moore Stephens LLP in collaboration with Parker and Associates to conduct a process audit and/or investigation of all material concession rights assigned by the Government of Liberia within the mining, oil, agriculture, and forestry sectors from July 13, 2009, the effective date of the LEITI Act, through to December 31, 2011. The selection of Moore Stephens LLP in collaboration with Parker and Associates followed the conduct of a procurement exercise approved by the African Development Bank (ADB).

The decision to conduct this exercise is in line with fulfilling the entire scope of LEITI’s activities beyond annual reporting and in keeping with the LEITI Act of 2009 which mandates “appropriate audits and/or investigations of the process by which each material concession, contract, license, and other right is awarded by the Government in respect of the forestry, mining, oil, agriculture and other designated resource sectors of Liberia in order to determine that each concession, contract, license, and similar right was awarded in compliance with applicable Liberian laws”.

Consequently, the LEITI lifted in its 2009/10 Work Plan the conduct of the process audit and/or investigation of all material concession, contract, license, and other rights awarded by the Government in respect of, mining, oil, forestry, and agriculture. The initial challenge to this task was securing funds amidst government’s own constraints in light of the global economic crisis. This was resolved when the African Development Bank, under its Fragile States Facility Program extended a grant of $460k to the Government of Liberia, of which $95k was allocated to this exercise. Subsequent leadership transitions at the LEITI Secretariat hindered tackling and completing this task. With a new leadership in place, a grant extension was sought and received to allow the exercise to be carried out before December 2012.

Based on a materiality assessment by the LEITI Secretariat, the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group (MSSG) approved the process audit and/or investigation of sixteen companies within the oil, mining, agriculture, and forestry sectors at its September 2012 meeting. Small and medium sized firms from the mining and forestry sectors will be added based on sampling methodology to be developed by the Auditor.

The report is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2013, and subsequently disseminated to the general public.
Notwithstanding the many questions and concerns raised by the local and international media in light of parallel national dialogues in extractive sectors, the LEITI cannot and will not attempt to preempt the findings of this endeavor. We wish to emphasize that this exercise represents an effort to independently and objectively examine the awarding process of our contracts and concessions and its outcomes will constructively contribute to ongoing reforms in our resource governance regimes.

Inauguration LEITI Resource Center Honorable Ministers and Members of Parliament Members and Officials of Government; Members of the LEITI Multi-Stakeholders’ Steering Group; Staff of the LEITI Secretariat; Members of the press; Distinguished ladies and gentlemen: Good afternoon. I am very happy to see you all here on occasion of the LEITI Resource Center. This is another event of the fruitful collaboration of LEITI and GIZ since 2010. More recently, we can look back at the launch of the third LEITI Report and the Incentivizing Report which I had the honor to attend, as well as the very successful retreat of the LEITI Multi-stakeholder Group on a new strategic Work Plan held in Buchanan City earlier this month. As part of their collaboration on improving resource governance through transparency and accountability, LEITI and the GIZ Regional Resource Governance Project have agreed to establish a Resource Center on the premises of the LEITI Secretariat. This Resource Center, that we are inaugurating today, aims at increasing opportunities for the Liberian Society especially for government and the civil society to access information and broaden the knowledge on resource governance and the benefits that can be derived. Evidently, in Liberia the access of stakeholders to quality information is weak. It is even more evident when constraints such as weak internet connectivity and an almost non-existent book market are taken into consideration. This places a huge burden on decision-makers and civil society who need good information for legislation and advocacy. Thus, this Resource Center will offer a range of publications on resource governance issues pertinent for the extractive industries sector in Liberia and Africa. This includes laws, regulations, scientific publications, documents by research institutes and NGOs, as well as publications and documents of the German Development Cooperation, the World Bank Group and other multilateral partners. LEITI and GIZ have assessed that it is of key importance to widen the access, opportunities and the knowledge base of the general public and in particular that of journalists, civil society, Liberian and international researchers, government officials and parliamentarians. The Resource Center shall in this respect serve as a point of reference, initiating and hosting well-informed public debates. This is in accordance with the provisions of the LEITI Act of 2009 which mandates the LEITI Multi Stakeholder Group and the Secretariat, as follows: - To serve as a platform bringing together the Government of Liberia, civil society, and relevant private companies for effective implementation of the criteria and principles of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. - To promote better public understanding of the non-renewable nature of most extractive resources; the causes of resource-based conflicts; and the benefits of transparent and prudent resource governance.“ Aiming at lasting investments, LEITI and GIZ Resource Governance Project have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which addresses the sustainability of the Resource Centre. While GIZ took responsibility for the initial supply of publications and to furnish the Centre, LEITI will take on a strong role to promote and ensure accessibility and availability to the public, including internet access. LEITI will also organize public events on resource governance, transparency and accountability, and related topics, in order to initiate a well-informed debate with the LEITI-stakeholders and the general public. LEITI will also be responsible for the future upkeep of the Centre. Considering the very successful cooperation between LIETI and GIZ, I believe that the launch of the Centre shows what joint efforts of development partners can achieve. For the future, I would like to wish you all success with the Resource Centre. Spread the word, and turn the Centre into a place of vibrant debate where people can extend their knowledge on resource governance and where increased transparency is very visible.

The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative has completed its 3rd EITI Report covering payments made to the Government of Liberia by one hundred twenty-one (121) mining, oil, agriculture, and forestry companies during the 12-month period from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, and its Incentivizing Study Report.

The Incentivizing study report titled: Incentivizing EITI Compliant Countries: the Case of Liberia was commissioned by the LEITI and completed, with funding support from one of our development partners, the GIZ.

Liberia volunteered to undertake this study when the International EITI Board established a Working Group, in 2010, on Incentivizing Compliant Countries – to present options on how compliant countries can be incentivized to continue and improve EITI implementation.

The 3rd EITI Report and the Incentivizing Study Report will be formally launched and released by the LEITI Multi-Stakeholders Steering Group (MSG) on Friday December 16, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. at the P.A’s Rib House in Lakpazee, Sinkor.

The Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Joseph Nyumah Boakai will serve as key Launcher of these two reports. This launching program will be attended by members of the diplomatic corps, officials of the Liberian government, the chairperson and members of the Multi-Stakeholders’ Steering Group(MSG) of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the press and other invited guests.

The publication will be followed by massive dissemination via print and electronic media, including the internet and by way of an extensive public outreach throughout the fifteen counties of Liberia.

The Government of Liberia joined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) process in September 2007, and has published its first and second reports. The first and second EITI Reports of Liberia contained payments data supplied by thirty (30) and sixty-four (64) companies respectively, and revenues data supplied by four (4) and five (5) agencies of Government, respectively.  Liberia undertook validation (EITI quality assurance mechanism) and became the first country in Africa and the second in the World to become EITI compliant in October 2009.


The LEITI is an autonomous agency of Government established by an Act of the Legislature as a partnership involving the Government, the Private Sector, and the Civil Society of Liberia. LEITI is supported by the Government of Liberia and Liberia’s Development partners.

The LEITI seeks to ensure transparency over payments to, and revenues received by, the Government of Liberia in connection with the operations of all oil, mining, logging and Agriculture companies operating in Liberia. The work of the LEITI consists of regular disclosure, audit/reconciliation, and publication of all material payments made by oil, mining, logging and agriculture companies (“Companies”) to the Government, and all material revenues received by the Government from the above-mentioned companies.  A critical component of the LEITI work program is the comprehensive and reliable reconciliation and/or audit of the payment and revenue data provided by both the Companies and the Government. The LEITI process also calls for massive and public dissemination of the EITI reports.

After nearly three months of leadership vacuum, the Secretariat of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) now has a Head and Deputy Head.

Those appointed include Mr. Samson S. Tokpah and Mr. Konah D. Karmo as Head and Deputy Head of Secretariat, respectively.

Messrs Tokpah and Karmo were appointed by the Multi-Stakeholders Steering Group (MSG) of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative effective November 1, and December 1, 2011 respectively, following a competitive recruitment process by a committee of individuals and institutions comprising Cllr. Negbalee T. Warner, Sis. Mary Lauren Browne of the Catholic Archdiocese of Liberia, Mr. Joseph K. Acqui, I of the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission (LACC), and Mr. E. Barthan Nyeswa of the General Auditing Commission (GAC), and FAWUL.

Mr. Tokpah assumes this responsibility with background and experience in operations improvement, NGO operations, financial management, banking, and academia; while Mr. Karmo, who until recently served as Accountant at LEITI, comes with additional skills in banking and operations.

Both men bring to their respective offices the dedication required for the effective stewardship of the LEITI Secretariat in achieving its objectives, and continuing the gains made by Liberia in setting a model for EITI implementation globally.

The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) is an autonomous public entity created by statute in 2009 to promote transparency over extractive industry revenues.  It is part of a global initiative known as Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) International.