IPNEWS Late Thursday evening, Kou Miapeh Gono, the Superintendent of Nimba County, held an elaborate town hall meeting in the town of Gbarpa, Nimba County.
The gathering brought together local stakeholders, youth groups, and community members to discuss the future of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s (AML) operations in the region.
Superintendent Gono acknowledged the recent decision by chiefs, elders, and citizens in the affected communities to ask the government to extend AML’s stay in Liberia. “This is not a bad thing,” she said. “But the people of Nimba need to come to the table, and that is why I am here. I want to sit with the stakeholders, the young people, and all of you to see how we can engage ArcelorMittal and the government so that things can be done the way we all want them to be done.”
She emphasized the importance of job creation, a major concern for Nimba citizens. “We talk about jobs—it’s a big thing, and we need these jobs created every time,” she stated. However, she also noted the challenge of competition, given AML’s status as Liberia’s largest concessionaire. “AML is the biggest concession company in the country, so people who want jobs come from all over Liberia. But our young people here need jobs too.”
Superintendent Gono reassured the gathering that she has been in discussions with AML’s CEO and top management to outline expectations and ensure that community demands are met. “We know things in the past have not been 100%, but in recent times, I have tried to have a good conversation with the CEO and top management about what our people expect,” she explained.
She underscored that the endorsement statement read by the affected communities a week ago was more than just a call for AML’s expansion—it was a community-driven petition to both their leaders and the government, highlighting what the company must do to make local residents happy.
Superintendent Gono pledged to visit affected communities, consult with towns and villages, engage the Nimba Legislative Caucus, and gather diverse opinions before submitting them to the national government. She emphasized the importance of unity in negotiations. “The possibility to extend their operation is huge because it is not only with us; it is with the central government. That is why people in the affected communities need to sit together and make it clear that they are not against the company, but that they want the right thing to happen.”
On March 18, 2025, chiefs, elders, and citizens of in Yarmein, Zor and Seh publicly expressed their support for the expansion of AML’s operations and the ratification of its Third Mineral Development Agreement (MDA). They acknowledged AML’s contributions to Liberia’s socio-economic development, citing its role in job creation, support for social infrastructure, and assistance during national crises such as the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks.
While endorsing AML’s expansion, community leaders emphasized the need for improvements in education and training by enhancing vocational training centers beyond the existing Yekepa Vocational Training Centre skills of their children.
They also called for programs to foster local entrepreneurship and business development, along with reserving 50% of unskilled jobs and 25% of skilled jobs for Nimba citizens to boost local employment.
Concerns were also raised about water supply, with calls for stronger measures to prevent pollution and minimize the impact of mining activities.
Community development was another key demand, with leaders advocating for improved infrastructure in Yekepa and the expansion of community water supply systems.
The leaders further stressed the importance of transparency and accountability, calling for the inclusion of community representatives in an independent MDA compliance monitoring team to oversee the agreement’s implementation.
They urged the Liberian government to support AML’s expansion while ensuring that these community concerns are addressed in the amended MDA. They emphasized that addressing these issues is crucial for lasting peace and prosperity in their communities.
Their endorsement has been followed by endorsement from Grand Bassa and Bong counties.
With Superintendent Gono’s commitment to ongoing consultations and negotiations, the people of Nimba County are poised to play a more active role in shaping the next phase of AML’s operations in Liberia.
The town hall served as a crucial step toward ensuring that community voices are heard and that their expectations are met in the company’s future dealings.
