By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
Former Mines and Energy Minister, Wilmot Paye has criticized recent statements made by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung regarding concession agreements during his appearance at the Liberia Broadcasting System.
The former Mines and Energy Minister, Paye described the remarks of VP Koung as contradictory and potentially misaligned with the administration’s declared policy direction under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
“I listened to the Vice President with keen interest, but what stood out were contradictions,” Paye said. “You cannot, on one hand, suggest that revisiting concessions makes Liberia look hostile to investors, while the President has consistently emphasized the need to review all concession agreements.”
In the interview, Koung stated that “most concessions were done by the past government,” warning against efforts to undo them. He also repeatedly asserted that his comments had been “cleared with the President,” a claim Paye questioned.
“I am not convinced that everything said was fully aligned with the President’s position,” Paye added.
“The President has made it clear, reviewing concessions is a policy priority. That responsibility lies with the entire team, including the Vice President.”
The debate also extends to Liberia’s mining sector, particularly the amended Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with ArcelorMittal. Koung highlighted that the company is now required to pay US$500,000 annually, presenting it as a significant improvement.
However, Paye argued that the Vice President’s statement overlooked key regulatory changes.“The reality is that Liberia introduced a new mining fee structure in June 2025,” he said. “Class A license fees were increased significantly, but when such fees are locked into concession agreements, they lose their regulatory power.”
According to Paye, embedding license fees in long-term agreements weakens oversight and reduces the government’s ability to enforce compliance.“License fees are regulatory tools, they should not be negotiated away,” he stressed.
“When we do that, we undermine our own institutions.”The former Minister and stalwart of the ruling party further pointed to systemic weaknesses in Liberia’s negotiation processes, suggesting that the country often loses leverage during the final stages of major agreements.
“The problem is not always the concessionaires,” he noted. “It is our own negotiating posture. We tend to lose focus at critical moments, and that is where the country suffers.”
He identified the Putu Iron Ore Project as a key opportunity for reform, urging the government to adopt a more strategic and assertive approach.
“Putu presents a chance to correct past mistakes,” Paye said. “If we fail to get this right, then it means we are not learning.
Liberia must begin to negotiate from a position of confidence, not fear.”Quoting former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Paye added: “Let us never negotiate out of fear.”
