Nimba County Senator Nya D. Twayen has emerged as one of the strongest voices demanding transparency and accountability in the Concession and Access Agreement (CAA) between the Government of Liberia and Ivanhoe Liberia Limited for legislative ratification. The deal, which would allow Ivanhoe to transport iron ore from Guinea through Liberian territory using the country’s rail infrastructure, has already stirred concerns among citizens with Nimba Lawmaker taking the lead.
Speaking during a press conference at his Capitol Building Office, the senator raised red flags over the unexplained US$37 million payment reportedly made by Ivanhoe to the previous government, as mentioned in President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s cover letter accompanying the agreement.
“The Liberian people deserve to know what that payment was for and how it was utilized. Accountability must be the foundation of trust in public governance,” Senator Twayen declared.
The Nimba lawmaker emphasized that while regional cooperation and private investment are crucial for national growth, the Legislature has a moral and constitutional duty to ensure that such agreements are fair, transparent, and beneficial to all Liberians—particularly the affected communities.
Senator Twayen reminded his colleagues that the railway and associated infrastructure traverse deeply through Nimba County communities that have long borne the brunt of mining operations without adequate compensation or tangible social benefits.
“Our people have endured years of environmental degradation, loss of farmland, and displacement without proper redress. Any agreement that seeks to expand or extend the use of these infrastructures must directly address these historical injustices,” he asserted.
He warned that Liberia could not afford to repeat the mistakes of the past, where concession agreements benefited a few at the expense of local populations.
“The days of signing bad agreements that undermine the rights and dignity of our people are over,” Twayen stressed, earning murmurs of support from several of his colleagues in the chamber.
The senator, who sits on the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget, as member cautioned against what he termed as “premature and improper fiscal assumptions.”
He revealed that there were discussions to include anticipated payments of US$10 million and US$15 million—expected from Ivanhoe upon ratification and access approval—into the current draft national budget.
“Doing so would create undue pressure on the Legislature to hastily ratify the agreement, potentially without thorough scrutiny. This must not be allowed,” he warned.
Beyond the fiscal and accountability concerns, Senator Twayen also pressed for explicit provisions defining the Community Development Fund within the agreement.
He argued that the fund should not be left to the discretion or goodwill of the concessionaire but should instead contain clear, measurable commitments that guarantee direct benefits to local residents.
“Our people deserve concrete deliverables such as schools, clinics, roads, and livelihood programs—not vague promises,” he said.
Senator Twayen’s statement adds to a growing chorus within the public demanding greater transparency over concession deals and questioning the management of pre-ratification payments. Political observers note that his intervention may force the Executive to provide detailed explanations about the US$37 million payment and to clarify whether any part of it entered public coffers.
As the Legislature begins deliberations on the Ivanhoe agreement, the controversy surrounding the payment to the previous administration could become a major test of the Boakai government’s promise of accountability and open governance.
