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Liberia: President Sirleaf confirms Diamond mining in Liberia
Mar 26, 2007
by Michael Kpayili / Staff Writer

Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed disappointment over increased media reports on the activities of illicit diamond mining operations in the country. She blamed some officials of the Land, Mines and Energy Ministry for engaging in such dubious operations despite the United Nations embargo on diamond mining operations in Liberia.

Quoting a clause in an assessment report on illicit diamond mining operations in Liberia, President Sirleaf noted that the people mining diamonds are those operating with gold mining licenses they have been issued by officials of the Lands, Mines and Energy Ministry and are now diverting gold activities to diamond operations.

The confirmation of illicit diamond mining was made by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf when she met with media executives and editors at her temporary Foreign Ministry office. President Sirleaf vowed to institute an appropriate actions against Lands, Mines and Energy Ministry officials linked to the illicit diamond mining saga.

Despite constant media reports of illicit diamond mining activities in the country, authorities of the Ministry maintained that the mining operations around the country are illegal and was not officially sanctioned but officials of the Gold and Diamond union of Liberia accused the ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy of legitimizing the illicit diamond in Liberia.

Meanwhile, in a wake of illicit diamond mining in Liberia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has dismissed two top officials of the Lands, Mines and Energy ministry for their role in granting fake and bogus licenses for mining operations in Liberia. According to an executive mansion release, Deputy minister of Mines Charles Dagoseh and Assistant minister James Knonwhy were engaged in act incompatible to their job functions.

President Sirleaf in a rather unpleasant mood has vowed to weed out corruption in Liberia which she termed as systematic. She outlined some corrupt practices at government institutions including the ministry of finance, Robert International Airport and the National Port Authority. She said some personnel of the finance ministry assigned at these institutions were harassing travelers and engages in printing bogus receipt in order to divert funds intended for government into their personal use.

President Sirleaf has directed the minister of Lands, Mines and Energy Eugene Shannoh to review all licenses of Gold and Diamond mining activities in Liberia and investigate their operations so as to set strict measures in detecting all violators. The President has also instructed the minister to enforce the ban on the exportation of script metals as the agreement covering such transaction are now under review for possible re-negotiation or cancellation.

In another development, president Sirleaf has called for a cordial working relations between the media and the Government in ensuring decent and pleasant surroundings. She said her government will not abuse the rights of the press in performing its duty. She expressed hope that with accurate collaborations between Government of Liberia and the media , the needed transformation process of the war-ravaged country will be a reality

About the Author:
Michael Kpayili is a staff writer for TheLiberianTimes.com. Kpayili has written articles which have appeared on TheLiberianTimes.com since late 2005, and his hard hitting investigative journalism has earned the respect of the Liberian press community.

Michael Kpayili may be contacted at mkpayili@theliberiantimes.com.