LIBERIA BOPOLU CITY, Gbarpolu County
Gbarpolu County Superintendent, Sam K. Zinnah, has shut down Leadbond Mining Company, a Chinese mining operation in Bopolu District, due to allegations of illegal mining in the community forest and failure to present valid mining documents. This decisive action was taken during a town hall meeting held on May 15, 2024, in Gbeleta Town, Bopolu District.
The shutdown followed suspicions raised by the leadership of the Korninga ‘B’ Community Forest Body, who alleged that the company violated the 2009 community rights laws and was operating without the necessary authorization.
Aaron Mulbah, Chief Officer of the Korninga B Community Forest in Korninga chiefdom, stated that the community plans to take legal action against the company for encroaching on their authorized forest area, calling the company’s actions a blatant disregard for community rights and well-being.
Several citizens also expressed frustration over the company’s failure to follow proper procedures and engage transparently with community members. The community highlighted concerns about potential exploitation of local resources and questioned the Chinese company’s intentions and practices.
Although the company claims to hold a class B license for mining operations, it was unable to provide any legitimate documentation authorizing its activities, particularly regarding its entrance into the community’s forest for gold mining.
The post is based on the content of an article in the “Global News Network Liberia”
https://gnnliberia.com/gbarpolu-supt-shuts-down-chinese-mining-company-over-alleged-illegal-mining-in-community-forest
