By: Emmanuel Tobotinho Quiah
NEWAKEN—COMMUNITY, GRAND KRU-Liberia’s mining industry is fraught with diverse frailties and contentions, ranging from illegality issues, control, undermining and protection of interests. These conditions are said to be faced at a gold mining site in Newaken Community, Trehn Statutory District, Grand Kru County, where two companies are at each other throat, and have run to the law for resolution.
Fate of party litigants is said in the balance in the case that has reportedly reached boiling point, in which a court in the county was Wednesday expected to hear a case over ownership and mining rights.
Our reporter who visited the site on July 20 and 21 said he observed heavy machinery, including excavators and a front-hand loader operating within the contested Class “C” mining claims.
According to him, the dispute involves the Southeastern Multipurpose Cooperative Society and Hongyun Mining Company Inc., both of which claim rights to the gold-bearing site.
“The matter is currently before the Worktaken Magisterial Court, which is expected to determine who has the legal authority to operate in the area,” he said.
Court documents reveal that the case began after the Southeastern Multipurpose Cooperative Society filed a complaint accusing Hongyun Mining Company Inc. and several individuals of criminal trespass, theft of property, and disorderly conduct, alleging the company unlawfully entered mining claims belonging to its members and began extracting minerals without consent.
Based on the complaints filed by Southeastern Multipurpose Cooperative Society, the court issued a Writ of Arrest on July 7, 2026, according to records seen.
However, the management of Hongyun Mining Company’s Field Manager through Emmanuel Gbaglow requested the hearing be postponed until July 22 on grounds that the company’s lawyer was unavailable due to another legal engagement –a request that was received by the court on July 9.
During the inspection, journalists observed active mining operations at the site with one excavator seen in operation before its Chinese operator stopped work after noticing the arrival of the media.
The team also saw freshly cleared land and large stockpiles of gold-bearing gravel, indicating that mining activities had continued despite the unresolved legal dispute.
Multipurpose Cooperative Society later visited the site and urged that all mining activities be suspended until the court reaches a decision.
Speaking to reporters, Cooperative President Elton Macarthy Wiah said the organization deliberately chose the legal process instead of confrontation, adding “allowing mining to continue while the matter is pending before the court could heighten tensions in the community.”
”We chose the court because we believe in peace and the rule of law. Mining should stop until the court decides who has the legal right to operate here,” he said.
He added that continued operations could create unnecessary conflict if authorities fail to enforce restraint while the case is being heard.
Although both parties remain at odds over the claims, no violence or disturbances were reported during the reporters’ visit.
Reporters later visited Hongyun Mining Company’s office in Newaken to seek the company’s position, but Field Manager Emmanuel Gbaglow declined to comment on the allegations, stating that the company would address the issue through the media at an appropriate time.
Documents reviewed by reporters include a letter dated October 27, 2025, signed by Clan Chief Hon. Michael W. Saikay, indicating that Newaken Community agreed to allocate a Class “C” mining claim on Gbanwin Creek to Mrs. Eliza N. Dioh, who is reportedly associated with the Southeastern Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
The document also emphasized the need to formally register the claim with the Ministry of Mines and Energy to guard against illegal mining activities and future ownership disputes.
Additional records show that the Southeastern Multipurpose Cooperative Society is a Liberian-owned cooperative comprising 23 members, many of whom reportedly possess valid Class “C” mining licenses.
Attempts to obtain comments from the Ministry of Mines and Energy regarding the status of the disputed mining claims were unsuccessful before publication.
With both sides maintaining competing claims, all attention now turns to the Worktaken Magisterial Court, where Wednesday’s hearing is expected to provide greater legal clarity on who holds the legitimate right to mine the Newaken gold deposit.
The case, according to experts, is a complete showcase of the foibles facing the country’s mining sector already fraught with illegal activities.
The Liberian government is struggling to contain illegal mining activities across the country necessitated by different political and business interests by high-ups.
Recently, President Joseph Boakai set a taskforce and appointed former LDEA Director, AB Kromah to lead the taskforce charged with the mandate to oversee and dismantle all mining illegal mining activities.
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