President Joseph N. Boakai has appointed a new Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) for the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI). According to an Executive Mansion release dated January 9, 2024, following extensive consultations with various constituencies in compliance with the LEITI Act of 2009 and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Standard, the appointments bring together representatives from Civil Society Organizations, the Private Sector, the Government, and International Observers.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a globally recognized standard that promotes transparency and accountability in the governance of the oil, gas, and mining sectors.
Through the EITI framework, Liberia aims to foster comprehensive disclosure of extractive sector data, ensure accountability in resource management, and improve public understanding of extractive licenses and contracts.
Composition of the MSG
Civil Society Representatives
- Mrs. Cecelia Danuweli – Publish What You Pay – Liberia
- Mr. Winston W. Wreh – Liberia Labour Congress
- Mr. Abraham B. Gappie – Mineral Civil Society Organizations of Liberia
- Ambassador George Kingsley – National Civil Society Council of Liberia
Private Sector Representatives
- Cllr. Michael V. Suah – Liberia Chamber of Mines
- Mr. Elvis G. Morris – Liberia Agriculture Companies Association
- Mr. James M. Strother – Liberia Business Association
- Mrs. Eliza D. J. Kronyanh – Liberia Timber Association
Government Representatives
- Honorable Rudolph J. Merab Sr. – Forestry Development Authority
- Honorable Augustine K. Ngafuan – Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
- Honorable Wilmot J. M. Paye – Ministry of Mines and Energy
- Honorable Rustolyn S. Dennis – National Oil Company of Liberia
- Dr. Alexander J. Nuetah – Ministry of Agriculture
- Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh – Ministry of Justice
- Honorable James Dorbor Jallah – Liberia Revenue Authority
- Honorable Marilyn T. Logan – Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority
Observers
- United States Embassy/USAID
- GIZ
Parliamentary Representation
- Honorable Sam P. Jallah, Bomi County, District #3
Representative from the House of Senate
- Senator Abraham D. Dillon, Montserrado County
President Boakai further designated Honorable Wilmot J. M. Paye, Minister of Mines and Energy, as the Chairperson of the MSG, with Honorable Augustine K. Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, serving as Co-Chairperson.
Mandate and Vision
The newly constituted MSG will serve a three-year term, in accordance with Sections 6.5 and 6.6 of the LEITI Act. The MSG has been tasked with ensuring Liberia’s full compliance with the EITI Standard, addressing outstanding corrective actions from the last validation, and preparing for the next EITI validation in January 2026.
President Boakai underscored the significance of the LEITI and the EITI process as a moral obligation and global commitment to foster public trust, enhance transparency, and ensure accountability in Liberia’s extractive sector. He reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to leveraging the nation’s natural resources to attract responsible investments, strengthen domestic resource mobilization, and maximize benefits for current and future generations.
“The effective implementation of the EITI Standard is not just a global obligation but a strategic imperative for Liberia’s sustainable development,” President Boakai emphasized.
