By Emmanuel Koffa
Sinoe County Senator Crayton Oldman Duncan, has raised concerns over a “growing disconnect between Liberia’s vast mineral wealth, and the persistent suffering of ordinary citizens.”
Duncan made the statement on Saturday, March 28, 2026, while serving as keynote speaker at the induction ceremony of the newly elected leadership of the Golden Veroleum Agricultural Workers’ Union of Liberia (GOVAWUL) in Barclayville, Grand Kru County.
His comment as frustration mounts over poverty and deteriorating living conditions in the county. He said, communities in resource-rich areas continue to face poor infrastructure, unemployment, and limited access to essential services, as the country’s natural resources are extracted and exported.
He said, without stronger accountability and oversight, the benefits of the mineral sector will continue to bypass the “very people it is meant to serve, deepening public discontent and undermining national development.”
“The Liberian people are suffering in the midst of plenty. Our resources are being exploited, but the benefits are not reaching the people.”
Sen. Duncan’s remark highlights longstanding concerns about transparency and governance in the extractive industries. He believes that some mining companies have failed to honor social development commitments outlined in concession agreements, while oversight by government institutions and certain lawmakers may be weak or compromised.
“There is a disconnect between the wealth being generated, and the lives of ordinary Liberians. This is unacceptable. It calls for urgent action.”
Political analysts say Duncan’s public statement may increase pressure on both the executive and legislative branches to review existing agreements with mining companies, and ensure that revenues are used to benefit local communities.
In Sinoe County, and other mining areas, residents have voiced frustrations over years of “unfulfilled promises by concessionaires.”
Projects intended to improve infrastructure, provide jobs, or build schools and clinics remain incomplete or entirely absent, fueling public dissatisfaction.
Sen. Duncan has meanwhile, warned that without visible progress, public frustration could escalate, undermining trust in government and the extractive industry.