“They Must Live up to the Agreement”

By: Joseph Titus Yekeryan in Bong County

Amid numerous reports that Turkish Gold Mining Company MNG Gold Liberia was now pulling out of Kokoyah Statutory District in Bong County, citizens of the district are calling on the Liberian government through the County’s legislative caucus to demand the company to live in accordance with the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding it signed with residents of the district.

During a well-attended program organized by the Boisen citizens, elders consultative and employment committee in David Dean Town over the weekend, the citizens stated that MNG has failed to meet up with its obligations as enshrined in the legal framework document.

Duah Kanga the head of the committee narrated that prior to gold exploration, authorities of the district and the management of MNG had signed a Memorandum of Understanding that called for the pave major routes, the construction of clinic and vocational center in David Dean Town, and the provision of local and international scholarships opportunities for youths of the district.

He said since the signing of that document, MNG is yet to live in accordance with its obligations, but it was surprising to note that the company was secretly pulling out of the district without prior notice.

Kangai wants the management of MNG Gold Liberia to respect its obligations within the MOU and ensure the timely completion of all projects before its withdrawal from the district.

Also speaking during the meeting, MNG Gold Liberia general manager Cem Koray Yagci denounced the widespread rumors over the Company’s reported departure from Kokoyah.

Yagci, however, narrated that due to the prevailing economic situation in the Country coupled with price of Gold on the international Market, the Company has halted all mining-related activities and temporarily closed its facility for operation.

Though, he was not definite about the actual time when the company will resume work but added that it may take several months.

Yagci asserted that the Company had completed construction of the Clinic in Dean Town three months ago, while the vocational school was at the point of completion.

He however assured the public of the company’s continued commitment to complete all of its social responsibility projects across the district.

For his part, the co-chairman of Bong County Legislature Caucus and representative of electoral district # in Bong County Albert Hills termed the information about the Company’s temporary closure as a surprise.

He said his office at no time received any communication from the management of the company about its temporary closure.

Also in attendance was Bong County Senator Prince Moye. Senator Moye lauded the citizens for being peaceful throughout the process and admonished the management of MNG gold Liberia to immediately halt the transportation of its equipment out of the district until the conduct of a full investigation by the Liberian government.

Senator Moye also expressed total dissatisfaction over the poor manner in which concession agreements are being handled by the executive branch of government, adding that some of these agreements are causing more harm than good for the citizens.

MNG gold Liberia has been operating on the mineral development agreement it inherited from Amlib in 2014 to extract minerals from Kokoyah. Since then, the company is yet to sign new mineral development with government.