IPNEWS: The Executive Masion reported Saturday, December 28, of President Boakai’s two days official visit to the Republic of Ghana. Even though the Executive Masion provided little on the President’s visit, except that the Liberian leader visit is centered around holding consultations with his counterparts, incoming Presidents of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, and outgoing Ghanaian President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, including honoring an invitation to attend the wedding ceremony of the daughter of a longstanding friend of his (named withheld).
Amidst this visit by President Joseph Boakai, speculations remain high in Monrovia over a final consummation of a mineral deal between the government of Liberia, and Solway Mining Incorporated this weekend in the Ghanaian capital Accra.
According to the report, a Mineral deal between Solway Mining Incorporated with reported major share ownership by Ibrahim Mahama, brother to incoming Ghanian President John Dramani Mahama might just be in full sight.
IPNEWS is yet to get responses from inquiries made to both the Minister of Information and Presidential Press Secretary.
However, it may be recalled, in late November 2023, report emerged how Ghanian businessman Ibrahim Mahama, CEO of Engineers & Planners Limited, had sought to buy the Solway Mining Limited in Liberia with suspected support from a group Russian Businessmen through its Embassy in Accra, Ghana.
Controversy arose over the deal after reports suggested that HPX, initially known for its acquisition of the Nimba Mount project in Guinean, attempted to assert its relevance in Liberia by allegedly pursuing an acquisition of Solway Mining Incorporated, despite its lack of any footprint in the Mining sector in Liberia.
Further report details that at the center of the controversy lies a complex web of connections involving HPX, leveraging on ties with influential figures like Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, brother of incoming Ghanaian President John Mahama, and a faction of disgruntled Russians from the former Putu Mining in Grand Gedeh County to access Solway.
On heels of these, Ibrahim Mahama embarked on frequent visits to Liberia and engaged with high-ranking government officials fueling additional suspicion of a concerted effort to secure control over Solway Mining Limited Liberia. Central to the controversy is the disputed ownership of Solway Mining Limited Liberia, and steel giant ArcelorMittal.
In like of the speculation of a final takeover of Solway Mining Limited Liberia, Ghanaian businessman Ibrahim Mahama, also C.E.O. of Engineers & Planners Limited, returned to Monrovia donating 20 police vehicles and three 1,200 KVA electricity generators to the Liberia Airport Authority, to boost Liberia’s infrastructure and security capabilities.
The presentation took place July 20, 2024, in Monrovia, and attended by Liberian President His Excellency Joseph Boakai and Vice President His Excellency Jeremiah Koung.
According to Ibrahim Mahama, his generous contribution is expected to enhance the operational efficiency and security at the Roberts International Airport in Monrovia, Liberia’s primary international gateway, stressing that the 20 police vehicles will bolster the airport’s security force, while the high-capacity generators will ensure a reliable power supply, critical for airport operations.
During the ceremony, President Boakai expressed his profound gratitude to Mr Mahama, a brother of the former President of the Republic of Ghana and flagbearer for the 2024 general elections, Mr John Dramani Mahama for his philanthropy, emphasizing the importance of such contributions to the nation’s development. “This donation will significantly improve our airport’s capabilities, ensuring the safety and comfort of travelers and boosting our overall infrastructure,” President Boakai stated.
Vice President Koung, on his part, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the longstanding relationship between Ghana and Liberia. “This act of generosity from Mr Ibrahim Mahama is a testament to the strong bond between our two nations. We are deeply appreciative of his support and commitment to Liberia’s progress,” Koung said.
The donation by Mr. Ibrahim Mahama sparked uneasiness with many wonderings as to why a single man would seeks to provide such huge support to Liberia when there are huge security challenges in Ghana.
In 2012, the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration, with Patrick Sendolo as Minister of Lands, Mines & Energy, granted an iron ore exploration permit to Mount Bele Resources on Blei Community Forest land and a permit to process iron ore tailings in the southwestern portion of the Barcoline community, Nimba County. Upon discovery that the area had been given to ArcelorMittal Liberia, Minister Sendolo under the instruction of former President Sirleaf canceled the exploration permit which eventually landed the case at the ECOWAS Court but was struck out.
Mineral maps and documents available show that it is the same area that the Weah-led administration granted an exploration permit to SOLWAY Mining Group.
According to maps and diagrams of the area, the controversial SOLWAY is encroaching in the same area as the Blei Concession area totaling 5574 ha tied to claim during the Sirleaf wherein iron ore exploration permit was allegedly given to Mount Bele Resources and subsequently canceled due to encroachment.
The diagrams and maps show that there was some overlapping between Blei area concession and Nimba Western area.
The overlap between Blei Concession area with Nimba concession area = 3192 ha;
Blei concession area free and not overlapping with existing ArcelorMittal Liberia concession areas = 1025 ha and Blei Community Forest area inside Blei concession area = 648 ha.
The U.S. State Department 2019 Investment Climate Report recalled that in January 2018, Mount Bele Resources (MBR) Liberia Ltd (MBR) filed an application with the Community Court of Justice of ECOWAS seeking redress for what it termed the “arbitrary revocation of [MBR’s] Mineral Exploration License without due process resulting [in the] denial of its proprietary rights over same and the loss of USD 21 million investment in the mining industry.”
The report further noted in that report: “The U.S. Embassy is aware of unresolved concessions-related land disputes. As firms commence operations, local communities may fear that their lands are being encroached upon, which can lead to disputes, strikes, and sometimes violence. In the interest of minimizing lost productivity and in the absence of government adjudication, companies often make additional community-level payments or agreements to resolve competing land claims. The future enforceability of such agreements is unclear. Prospective investors should not underestimate the potential for costly and complex land dispute issues to arise even after concluding agreements with the government.”
The ECOWAS Court with case no. ECW/CCJ/APP/04/18 involving Mount Bele Resources Limited and the Republic of Liberia, the Court granted the plaintiff’s notice of discontinuance of the suit, and the case was struck out.
“The Solway License is for Iron Ore and the relevant area is within AM’s Concession Area. Accordingly, it is patently clear that the issuance of the Solway License violates AM’s exclusive rights under the MDA,” AML complained.
“It is therefore of concern that AM (AML) has become aware of the existence of certain agreements that your government has sought to conclude with third parties, as well as certain licenses [issue gave] rise to breaches of AM’s rights under the MDA,” AML added. “These apparent violations are at odds with the government’s legal obligations towards AM and, if remained unaddressed, risk bringing about irreparable harm to AM’s current operations and future business plans. Most importantly, they call into question the Government’s commitment to its longstanding partnership with AM.”
Solway Mining Group is said to be a subsidiary of Solway Industries Limited that has been licensed by the Liberia Government to undertake iron ore exploration to ascertain the existence, location, quantity, and quality of commercial value of deposits in the exploration area that covers approximately 56 Sq.Km is defined by the UTM coordinates of Spatial Reference.
The granting of an exploration license to the company by the Liberian Government means Solway will explore Mount Mbelle located in Zor Clan, Nimba Third Electoral District and Mount Detton in Sehyi Clan, Nimba Second Electoral District; two areas where significant portions fall within the ArcelorMittal Concession Areas, according to the company.
