…Demands De-ratification…
The Grand Kru County Senator, Numene T.H. Bartekwa, has formally called on the Liberian Senate to de-ratify the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) granted to Hummingbird Resources Liberia Incorporated, citing what he described as years of inactivity, misrepresentation, and neglect of the people of Grand Kru, River Gee, and Sinoe counties.
Raising the matter on the floor of the Senate, Senator Bartekwa accused Hummingbird Resources of deceitfully entering into a concession agreement with the Government of Liberia in 2019 without the capacity or genuine intention to commence mineral exploration and mining operations. According to the Senator, the company’s conduct has not only stalled development in the affected counties but has also denied citizens the economic benefits they were promised when the agreement was ratified.
Senator Bartekwa told his colleagues that when news broke that Hummingbird Resources had secured a mineral concession covering parts of Grand Kru, River Gee, and Sinoe counties, communities across the three counties celebrated with high expectations. Residents, he said, believed the concession would create jobs, improve livelihoods, and stimulate long-awaited development in areas that continue to face severe economic hardship.
However, he lamented that shortly after acquiring the Mineral Development Agreement, the company effectively left Liberia and has since only made occasional appearances, leaving both the government and local communities in what he described as “a complete state of oblivion.” The Senator stressed that since the publication of the concession agreement in handbills on April 10, 2019, Hummingbird Resources has failed to meaningfully commence operations or provide clear explanations for its prolonged inactivity.
He further warned that the mere existence of the concession agreement has created a legal and investment barrier for the affected counties. Senator Bartekwa explained that because Hummingbird Resources still holds the MDA, no other legitimate mineral development investor can be allowed to operate in the concession areas, even as the company reportedly shops the agreement on international markets without delivering tangible benefits on the ground.
Describing the situation as unfair and harmful, the Grand Kru lawmaker said it was unacceptable for a company to hold onto Liberia’s natural resources while communities remain impoverished and uncertain about their future. He questioned why the government should continue to honor an agreement when the company involved has failed to comply with its core obligations.
As a result, Senator Bartekwa formally requested the Senate Plenary to mandate its relevant committees, including the Committees on Lands, Mines and Natural Resources; Concessions and Investment; and Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims and Petitions, to summon the Minister of Mines and Energy, the Chairperson of the National Investment Commission, and the Director-General of the National Bureau of Concessions. The purpose of the proposed inquiry, he said, is to establish why Hummingbird Resources has not begun operations more than five years after the concession was granted.
He maintained that if no justifiable reason is provided for the company’s failure to operate, the concession agreement should be de-ratified to allow other credible investors the opportunity to partner with the Government of Liberia for the benefit of the people of Grand Kru, River Gee, and Sinoe counties.
During deliberations, concerns were raised by some Senators about the legal and economic implications of de-ratifying concession agreements without due process, including the potential for court actions and negative signals to the business community. Nonetheless, the Senate leadership emphasized the importance of following established procedures by referring the matter to the appropriate committees for thorough investigation and reporting.
Granted time to further address the Plenary, Senator Bartekwa reiterated that his action was driven by the suffering and frustration of his constituents. He noted that citizens across the three counties continue to seek answers from government authorities while the company remains silent and inactive. He argued that Liberia’s natural resources should not be tied up by agreements that yield no benefits to the people.
The Senate subsequently agreed that the communication be received and forwarded to the relevant committees for review, marking the first formal step toward determining the future of Hummingbird Resources Liberia Incorporated’s concession agreement with the Government of Liberia.
