IPNEWS: Mansa Resources Limited, a company seeking to take control of a major mining concession in Liberia, is under growing scrutiny for allegedly violating key provisions of Liberia’s labor and concession laws, even as its request for a formal change of control remains under government review.
The company, which has reportedly acquired all stakes in the Hummingbird Resources concession from Pasofino Gold Limited, is still awaiting official approval from the Government of Liberia to assume control of the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) originally granted to Hummingbird Resources. Despite this pending status, multiple sources in the Ministry of Mines and Labour say Mansa Resources has already begun aggressively recruiting senior personnel, most of whom are foreign nationals, primarily from South Africa.
One month ago, Mansa Resources posted a job recruitment notice on its Linkedin Page to recruit a Project Readiness and Compliance Manager with more than 100 applications received. With no formal HR interviews and the company hired one South African lady called Vicky Puncheon who fled to Liberian in the absence of work permit and started duties and the Ministry of Mines has raised deep concern about the hiring of this particular lady.
According to sources in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, with no authorization, Mansa Resources has also hired dozens of South African some already working and many on their way to start work in Liberia.
Under Liberian law and standard provisions within MDAs, companies operating in the country are required to prioritize Liberian employment. This includes advertising job vacancies locally and demonstrating that no qualified Liberian is available before recruiting expatriates.
However, information obtained by this paper indicates that several key positions within the project have already been filled without any evidence of local job postings or competitive recruitment processes. The hiring drive reportedly includes top managerial and operational roles, raising concerns about compliance with both the Labor Law of Liberia and the MDA provisions Mansa Resources seeks to inherit.
Critically, Mansa Resources is not yet formally recognized as the concession holder. Legal experts note that until the Government of Liberia grants the change of control, the company has no standing to independently undertake staffing decisions tied to the concession.
“This is a fundamental breach,” said a source familiar with concession compliance. “You cannot act as operator when the state has not approved you as such.”
Further compounding concerns is the reported absence of a functional human resources structure within Mansa Resources in Liberia. Under national labor regulations, recruitment processes must be overseen by a properly constituted HR department, with a strong emphasis on Liberian participation and oversight.
Instead, sources indicate that recruitment decisions are being driven externally, bypassing standard procedures that require transparency, local advertisement, and competitive vetting.
“This undermines the very framework designed to protect Liberian workers,” a labor sector insider noted.
Officials within the Ministry of Mines and Energy are said to be aware of the situation. A senior source within the ministry disclosed that formal communication to Mansa Resources is imminent, with authorities expected to demand an immediate halt to all recruitment activities and a reversal of hires made outside the legal framework.
“The process must be respected,” the source said. “Until the change of control is granted, no new operator has the authority to act.”
At the same time, officials at the Ministry of Labour are reportedly reviewing work permit applications tied to the recruited expatriates. Early indications suggest that these permits could be denied on grounds that the recruitment process violates Liberian employment laws.
The unfolding situation could have significant implications for the future of the project, which is expected to play a key role in Liberia’s mining sector.
Delays in regulatory approval, coupled with potential legal disputes over non-compliance, may stall development timelines and erode investor confidence. Industry observers warn that failure to adhere to local content requirements could also damage relations with host communities and the government.
“There is a risk of setting the project back before it even begins,” said an analyst familiar with mining investments in West Africa. “Compliance is not optional. It is central to operational legitimacy.”
At the heart of the controversy is a broader question of legitimacy. Mansa Resources, not yet registered or formally recognized as an operator in Liberia, is effectively acting in a capacity that legally belongs to another entity until government approval is secured.
Such actions, experts say, could be interpreted as an attempt to preempt regulatory processes and establish control without state consent.
For now, attention turns to how swiftly the Liberian government will respond and whether corrective measures will be enforced.
As the situation develops, the case is likely to test the strength of Liberia’s regulatory institutions and their willingness to uphold compliance standards in the face of investor pressure.
In June 2026, South African launched the “Go Back Home” and “Put South Africa First” campaigns, primarily due to widespread economic frustrations, strained public infrastructure, and fears regarding undocumented immigration. Proponents of these nationalist campaigns argue that foreign nationals undermine the domestic labor market, though critics and international observers broadly condemn the movement as an expression of xenophobia and afrophobia.
Activists claim that foreign nationals accept lower wages, taking employment opportunities away from South Africans in a country struggling with historically high unemployment rate.
Protesters argue that the influx of undocumented migrants overburdens public hospitals, schools, and housing infrastructure.
The Movements often scapegoat African migrants by accusing them of driving local crime waves, illicit drug trafficking, and operating undocumented businesses.
Campaigners demand that the government strictly enforce immigration laws, leading to targeted citizen-and-vigilante-led crackdowns against those lacking valid legal residency.
The intensification of these protests and associated vigilante actions has created significant regional friction. In response to rising intimidation, displacement, and violence, multiple African governments—including Nigeria, Uganda, Malawi, and Kenya—have enacted mass emergency repatriation and evacuation programs to pull their citizens out of South Africa safely. Prominent pan-African figures have strongly criticized the movement, warning that the ongoing dehumanization of fellow Africans fundamentally threatens continental unity
