MONROVIA – The newly established Protect Our Resources Taskforce (PORT) has held its first technical meeting, officially launching a coordinated national campaign aimed at combating illegal mining, strengthening regulatory compliance, and protecting Liberia’s mineral resources.
The inaugural meeting took place on Wednesday, July 1, at the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Monrovia. It brought together members of the multi-agency taskforce, led by Chairman Abraham Kromah, and officials of the Ministry headed by Minister R. Matenokay Tingban.
PORT was established under Executive Order No. 167, signed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. on June 26, 2026. The taskforce is mandated to improve inspections, enforce compliance, and strengthen governance across Liberia’s mining sector amid growing concerns over illicit mining activities.
Speaking during the meeting, Minister Tingban presented the Technical Administrative Framework (TAF), which will guide the operations of the taskforce. He described the initiative as a major step toward intelligence-led enforcement, stronger institutional coordination, and responsible management of the country’s mineral resources.
The Minister stressed that Liberia’s mineral wealth belongs to the nation and should contribute to economic growth, environmental sustainability, and national development. He warned that illegal mining should no longer be treated as a simple licensing violation but as economic sabotage, environmental abuse, revenue theft, and a threat to lawful investment.
According to the framework, PORT will conduct routine and intelligence-driven inspections, identify illegal mining hotspots, coordinate enforcement operations, seize equipment used in illegal activities, investigate violations, refer economic crimes for prosecution, and promote public awareness on responsible mining practices.
The taskforce will monitor compliance across industrial, commercial, and artisanal mining operations, ensuring adherence to licensing requirements, royalty payments, environmental regulations, occupational safety standards, and other legal obligations.
The framework also outlines broader goals, including protecting Liberia’s mineral resources, increasing government revenue, strengthening cooperation among state institutions, promoting environmental stewardship, disrupting illegal mining networks, combating mineral smuggling, and encouraging responsible investment in the mining sector.
Taskforce Chairman Abraham Kromah called for close collaboration among all participating institutions, emphasizing that the success of the initiative depends on a united national effort.
He said the taskforce would work collectively by sharing intelligence, enforcing the law fairly, engaging local communities, and ensuring that individuals involved in illegal exploitation of Liberia’s mineral resources are held accountable.
Kromah added that the taskforce would operate professionally, transparently, and within the rule of law while promoting stronger cooperation among all participating agencies.
The meeting was attended by taskforce members Ashford Peal, Prince Mulbah, Tarnue Kesselly, and Charles Johnson, as well as representatives of the Ministries of Finance and Development Planning and Justice, the Armed Forces of Liberia, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Liberia Revenue Authority, and the Liberia Immigration Service.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, including Assistant Minister for Mineral Exploration and Environmental Research Sam Summerville, Inspector-General for Mines Agatius Coker, and Deputy Inspector-General for Mines Adolphus Gleekia, also participated in the meeting.
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