Sinoe County Senator Crayton O. Duncan has called on the Liberian Senate to take the lead in reviewing and amending concession agreements governing the country’s natural resources, following President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s renewed commitment to revisit such agreements as outlined in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Senator Duncan made the call in a formal communication submitted to the Senate Plenary on February 2, 2026, urging lawmakers to move beyond rhetoric and initiate concrete legislative action to address long-standing inequities associated with concession agreements in Liberia.
In his letter, the Sinoe County lawmaker referenced President Boakai’s SONA pronouncement, which underscored the need to review and amend concession agreements to ensure that Liberia derives fair and lasting benefits from the exploitation of its natural resources.
According to Senator Duncan, the President’s statement reflects a broader national concern over historical imbalances in the extraction, management, and distribution of benefits from Liberia’s natural wealth, concerns that, he noted, require decisive legislative leadership.
“The President’s statement highlights the need to comprehensively address historical inequities in the extraction and management of our natural wealth, ensuring Liberians receive fair benefits,” Senator Duncan stated. “As leaders, it is crucial that the Senate Plenary takes the lead in reviewing and amending these agreements to secure our nation’s interests.”
The Sinoe County Senator further grounded his request in constitutional authority, citing Article 58 of the 1986 Constitution, which mandates the President to present an annual message on the State of the Republic, including the legislative agenda for the ensuing year. He emphasized that the State of the Nation Address represents the formal and legally recognized framework through which the President outlines national priorities requiring legislative attention.
Senator Duncan explained that while presidential statements can shape policy direction and influence executive action, substantive policy changes—particularly those affecting concession agreements—require formal legislative processes, including the passage of laws, amendments, and regulatory measures.
Given the national significance of concession agreements and their impact on Liberia’s economy and development trajectory, Senator Duncan respectfully requested that the Senate Plenary take a series of actions to operationalize the President’s commitment.
Among his requests, the Senator proposed the establishment of a Senate Special Concessions Review Committee tasked with overseeing a comprehensive review of existing concession agreements. He also urged the Senate to formally communicate with President Boakai to seek clarity on any follow-up actions, including whether the Executive intends to submit specific proposals or draft legislation to the Legislature.
Additionally, Senator Duncan called for the conduct of public hearings to allow Liberians and key stakeholders to provide input into the review process, noting that transparency and public participation are critical to restoring confidence in concession governance. He further stressed the need for timely legislative amendments aimed at ensuring fair, equitable, and sustainable benefits for the Liberian people.
“Liberians are watching, and decisive action will reinforce trust in our institutions,” Senator Duncan wrote, appealing to his colleagues to act with urgency and sincerity under the circumstances.
Following the reading of the communication on the floor of the Senate prior to deliberations, a motion was filed by a Bomi County Senator to forward the matter to the relevant Senate committees for further consideration. The motion proposed that the communication be referred to the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims and Petitions, and Concessions for appropriate intervention.
The Senate Plenary accepted the motion, thereby setting the stage for committee-level review and possible legislative action on the proposed review and amendment of concession agreements.
