By Wilmot Konah, +231775793638 / dadekolly20@gmail.com
Capitol Hill: The Chairperson of the Law Reform Commission of Liberia, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, has urged the 55th Legislature to comprehensively revise Liberia’s mining law, describing legal reform in the sector as critical to strengthening the country’s mining industry and advancing its bid for a second Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact.
Cllr. Varmah said the MCC has identified legal reforms, particularly in the mining sector, as an important area on its scorecard for countries seeking to qualify for funding.
He made the statement Thursday, September 17, 2026, during a legislative briefing and policy framework discussion convened by the House Committee on Mines and Energy at the House of Representatives.
Cllr. Varmah called on lawmakers to go beyond making isolated amendments to the existing law and instead undertake a comprehensive review of the entire mining legal framework.
“The mining law needs to be comprehensively revised because the current framework does not adequately address the challenges confronting the sector,” Cllr. Varmah said.
According to him, Liberia’s mining sector has evolved significantly, requiring a legal framework that responds to current economic, regulatory and institutional realities. The Law Reform Commission boss also asserted that limitations within the existing mining law have made it difficult to effectively address several challenges confronting the sector, making a broader review necessary.
He also linked the proposed revision to Liberia’s efforts to meet legal reform requirements associated with the MCC Compact. “If Liberia is serious about meeting the legal reform requirements for the second MCC Compact, then revising the mining law should be given serious attention, and it starts with you the Legislature” he added.
Cllr. Varmah therefore encouraged members of the 55th Legislature to prioritize the comprehensive review of the mining law as part of broader efforts to strengthen governance, regulation and accountability within Liberia’s mining sector. He said a revised mining law could help close existing legal gaps and provide a more responsive framework for managing the country’s mineral resources.
The legislative briefing brought together lawmakers and stakeholders to discuss Liberia’s mining policy and legal framework, with emphasis on reforms needed to address existing gaps and improve the effectiveness of the sector.
