By: Alphanso G. Kalama
IPNEWS: A major civil society coalition is accusing the Liberian government of withholding vital information about a \$1.8 billion concession agreement signed with Ivanhoe Liberia Ltd., formerly HPX.
The deal, which reportedly includes long-term access to Liberia’s rail and port infrastructure for the transportation of Guinean iron ore, was quietly signed on Sunday, July 6—without any prior public announcement. Strikingly, it was not the Liberian government but the U.S. Embassy that first informed the public about the agreement.
“This level of secrecy is unacceptable,” said Joseph Miller, head of the National Civil Society Coalition, who addressed the media Tuesday in Monrovia. “No one in government has explained how \$1.8 billion was calculated or what Liberia is getting in return. That’s a problem.”
The coalition questioned whether the deal includes any upfront cash payments, whether the full amount is projected investment or tied to speculative mineral values, and why staged payments of just $10 million and \$15 million are being highlighted in a deal worth billion.
More controversially, the agreement reportedly grants Ivanhoe rights to move up to 30 million tons of Guinean iron ore annually through Liberia’s railway system, six times the 5 mtpa requested by Guinea in 2019. Critics argue that such a commitment could monopolize rail access and shut out smaller Liberian mining companies.
“What happens to Liberian producers if most of the rail is handed over to a foreign company for Guinean ore?” Miller asked. “Have we even studied the rail’s full capacity?”
The timing of the agreement—signed just hours before President Joseph Boakai departed for Washington—has fueled speculation about whether the deal was linked to broader political or diplomatic negotiations. The government has yet to hold a press conference or release the full contract for public scrutiny.
Civil society organizations stated that the lack of transparency surrounding the 25-year deal raises serious governance concerns. They are now calling for an immediate halt to the ratification process until the agreement is made public and fully reviewed.
“This isn’t just another business contract,” said Miller. “It reshapes our infrastructure, our economy, and our future. Liberians have a right to know what’s in it.”
The coalition is also urging the National Investment Commission and the Ministry of Finance to explain the deal’s terms and implications in a public forum, and has called on the Legislature to reject any attempt to ratify the agreement without proper review.
Among the groups backing the demand are the Coalition for Transparent Development, the Center for Public Accountability, and the Liberia Civil Rights Network.
As of press time, there has been no official response from the Government of Liberia.
