MONROVIA – The Ivondhoe Agreement is emitting hilarious dramas. Looks like those executive officials are giving the Senate the slip! The Liberian Senate postponed the Ivanhoe Atlantic Inc. concession hearing again, and it’s getting messy. Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan and Justice Minister Oswald Tweh didn’t show up, despite being key signatories to the deal. Their reps showed, but lawmakers weren’t having it, saying only the ministers could explain the agreement. And Nimba County Senator Nya D. Twayen, Jr. “is not taking side”, as Liberian folks would say about being intentional and forceful about an assignment: he is digging everywhere not only into the Ivanhol deal, but also those of ORANTO, ArcelorMittal, punching it here and there, and the loopholes are seemingly bare. The Analyst reports.
On Monday again the Senate halted its public inquiry into the Ivanhoe Atlantic Inc. (HPX) concession after Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan and Justice Minister Oswald Tweh failed to appear, despite mounting public pressure for clarity on the controversial deal.
The hearing was organized by the Senate Joint Committee on Transport, Lands and Natural Resources, and Concessions and was expected to scrutinize the Concession and Access Agreement signed between Liberia and Ivanhoe Liberia, a subsidiary operating within the HPX and SMFG framework.
Committee chair Senator Saah H. Joseph announced the postponement to next Thursday following a brief closed door meeting lasting less than ten minutes.
Although both ministers sent representatives, an Assistant Minister revenue from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and a the Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Justice Cllr. Charles D.F. Karmo, lawmakers ruled that the hearing could not proceed without the direct presence of the officials who signed the agreement.
A number of senior officials did appear, including National Investment Commission Chairman Jeff Billbo, Liberia Revenue Authority Commissioner General Dorbor Jallah, and Transport Minister Sirleaf Tyler, but their presence did not satisfy senators who said only the Justice and Finance Ministers could explain how the agreement was reached.
Nimba County Senator Samuel Kogar was first to object, questioning why the Finance Minister failed to formally communicate his absence. He also expressed concern that Justice Minister Oswald Tweh has repeatedly avoided legislative scrutiny over the Ivanhoe deal even though he is one of its principal signatories. Senator Kogar said proceeding without the two ministers would undermine the integrity of the Senate’s oversight responsibilities.
At the center of the inquiry is whether Liberia complied with the Implementation Agreement signed between Liberia and Guinea, the governing instrument for all cross border rail and port access. The Implementation Agreement was intended to guide every decision related to Guinean mineral transport through Liberia.
It outlined clear procedures requiring a two-step approval process, involving a Request for Eligibility vetted by Guinea and a Request for Access submitted to Liberia for review by a joint Monitoring Committee and final endorsement by Liberia’s Inter Ministerial Committee.
It also established the committees responsible for preventing unilateral action by either country and instructed the Technical Secretariat to prepare a standard access agreement template to ensure uniform treatment of all operators.
However, no public record shows that these procedures were followed before the signing of the Ivanhoe Concession and Access Agreement.
This absence of documentation has intensified scrutiny around the Minister of Justice, who as the government’s chief legal adviser is responsible for ensuring that Liberia meets its obligations under international agreements.
His presence was considered essential for clarifying what legal steps were taken, yet he has skipped multiple hearings.
Twayen’s Office Releases Detailed Analysis
Meanwhile, the Office of Senator Nya D Twayen Jr. has concluded what it called a detailed review of several major concession arrangements currently before national authorities.
These include Ivanhoe, ORANTO,and Arcelor Mittal. Our focus remains the same: full compliance with the laws of Liberia, respect for established procedures, and protection of the interests of our people.
Ivanhoe Agreement
Regarding the Avanhoe, the senator’s office said: “Our assessment of the Ivanhoe Concession Access Agreement places its compliance rating at 77%. While this shows some effort, it does not meet the standard required for legislative support. We will not vote for any concession that fails to reach at least 85% in good standing. To move this agreement forward, we have outlined the following conditions:
“1. The road intended for the movement of iron ore from Nimba to the Guinea border must be paved. A dusty corridor is unacceptable for communities and the environment.
“2. The Government of Liberia must not be placed in a position where it is required to repay the 37 million dollars already provided to the former administration due to any delay in ratification or access.
“3. A clear rail operations arrangement must be presented. This must include the Government, Ivanhoe, and Arcelor Mittal. The legislature must see this framework before considering ratification.
“4. The community development fund must be clearly stated. It must include timeframes and remain fully under community and government control without sharing implementation authority with the company.
ORANTO Petroleum
The senator’s office also took aim at ORANTO which it stated has been rated at 72% in compliance, falling below the threshold for our support.
“For ORANTO to be considered, the following issues must be addressed: 1. ORANTO must present proof of fresh data purchase for the four oil blocks. The company cannot rely on old seismic data bought a decade ago and already monetized. New data will bring in (200,00 USD) two hundred thousand dollars per block, amounting to (800,000 USD) eight hundred thousand dollars to government.
‘2. The 25% stake reserved for Liberia must not depend on the collection or expiration of a joint investment fund that may take long for Liberians to mobilize.
“3. ORANTO must show clear evidence of active offshore operations in other jurisdictions to demonstrate experience and capacity.”
Arcelor Mittal Liberia (AML)
The Senator also spoke about AcelorMittal, indicating that the legislature has not received any new agreement from AML.
“We continue to await its submission. For seven months, my office has documented all major areas of noncompliance and the serious violations of the current Mineral Development Agreement,” the vocal Nimba Senator said. “These findings have been formally shared with His Excellency the President through my office and the Nimba Legislative Caucus.”
According to his office, a detailed fact sheet has also been submitted to the Liberian Senate and the relevant committees.
“They are prepared to examine any new agreement once it arrives. We maintain our long standing position: AML must fully honor and retroactively implement the obligations it has already violated under the current MDA. This must be a binding condition before the start of any new agreement,” the office said.
“Our office will continue to champion fairness, accountability, and respect for the rights of our communities. The resources of Liberia belong to the people of Liberia, and every concession must reflect that principle.”