MONROVIA – President Joseph Boakai’s Economic Advisor, Molley Kamara, has reportedly criticized Bronwyn Barnes, President and CEO of Ivanhoe Atlantic Inc., accusing her of disrespecting President Boakai in a recent letter. The letter concerned the government’s decision to keep ArcelorMittal Liberia as the operator of the Yekepa-Buchanan railway.
According to FrontPage Africa, Kamara said Barnes’ letter, dated May 3, 2025, was “highly disrespectful” and intended to undermine the President and pressure the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC).
Kamara wrote, “Your letter is not just inappropriate for the office it was addressed to, but also disrespectful to the person holding that office—my President, H.E. Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. You would never dare send such a letter to your own Prime Minister or even Donald Trump.”
Barnes’ letter expressed disappointment over the IMCC’s decision, which she said went against earlier promises to set up an independent, multi-user railway.
She wrote, “Mr. President, I must express my concern that the IMCC’s actions do not reflect your clear policy direction as outlined in your Executive Order,” arguing the move ignored the government’s commitment to fairness and transparency.
She urged President Boakai to reverse the decision through an official directive, warning that delays could harm investor confidence and damage Liberia’s reputation internationally.
In response, Kamara said Barnes was trying to embarrass the President and manipulate the IMCC. He also questioned Ivanhoe’s trustworthiness, especially in relation to its $5 billion Liberty Corridor project. “You and Mr. Robert Friedland announced this major project in February 2024, but have since shifted to using infrastructure owned by a competitor,” he noted.
Kamara stressed that Liberia is a sovereign nation and would not tolerate disrespect or pressure from foreign companies.
He also challenged Ivanhoe’s claims of a $3.15 billion economic impact, saying no supporting data had been provided. He further questioned the company’s plan to transport ore from Guinea through Liberia, pointing out that there’s no confirmation from the Guinean government to support this plan.
The IMCC recently reaffirmed ArcelorMittal’s control over the railway, citing legal and practical reasons. Ivanhoe, which is owned by High Power Exploration (HPX), has opposed this, even though it had initially proposed building the Liberty Corridor to boost regional mining and transport. The company has now shifted to seeking access to ArcelorMittal’s rail system.
Kamara concluded by accusing Ivanhoe of lacking transparency and commitment to Liberia’s development. “Your company has not provided key documents,” he said. “And we’ve received no guarantees from Guinea about ore shipments through Liberia—raising more doubts about your project’s feasibility.”
