Lofians Are Angry!!
Decry Fallah’s Proposal To Sell Wologizi
“Currently, we have many foreigners doing what Liberians should do . . . the excuse is always that Liberians are not prepared; sometimes that’s true. So, we cannot afford to be victims again in the case of Wologizi.”
By Alphanso G. Kalama (Contributor)
Deputy House Speaker Thomas P. Fallah’s controversial proposal to sell the Wologizi Mountain, has garnered mixed reactions among Lofians.
Some of them have sworn to get even with their lawmaker due to the proposal.
Wologizi Mountain, located in Lofa County, remains the country’s highest and is reportedly rich with minerals.
About two weeks ago, Fallah called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to take a decisive action concerning Wologizi Mountain.
Located in the Guinea Highlands, Wologizi known to be rich in iron ore, gold, and diamonds, according to a 1973 U.S. Geological Survey. Despite its vast mineral potential, it remains untapped.
But Fallah claimed that his call to Pres. Boakai, who is himself a Lofian, reflects a broader plea from the people of the county.
But no sooner had Rep. Fallah released his proposal to sell the mountain than journalist Shammah Dorbor, also a Lofian, warned him to stop lobbying to give the mountain out for exploration.
In the wake of the entangle, some Lofians have angrily reacted with varying views.
It is not timely
Morris Y. Beyan, Secretary General of the Zorzor District Youth Council, strongly criticized the timing of the Fallah proposal.
“Currently, we have many foreigners doing what Liberians should do,” Beyan said. “The excuse is always that Liberians not prepared; sometimes that’s true. So, we cannot afford to be victims again in the case of Wologizi.”
Beyan called on the government to first invest in technical education, especially in mining engineering and geology, to ensure that Liberians, and not foreigners, fill key positions in any future development projects involving the mountain.
“The first and foremost engagement in Lofa should be to prepare young people to handle these jobs. Until then, it is not timely to give the mountain out,” he said.
Support with Caution
Other citizens, however, backed the proposal, but with conditions attached.
Rufus Kolubah, a secondary school teacher, welcomed the Fallah idea, saying development must take precedence.
“Keeping the resources under the ground will not help us. If the mountain can be sold to bring progress, I will fully welcome it,” Kolubah said.
He added that Lofa County has educated individuals capable of monitoring mineral agreements, warning against politicizing the issue.
Kebeh Yekeh, a resident of Fissebu Town, echoed similar sentiments, stressing that the deal must serve the ‘common good,’ of the residents.
“I agree, but let this resource be used wisely. Fifty percent of the would-be employees should come from Lofa. This should not be another self-enrichment scheme,” she warned.
Elders’ support
Fissebu’s General Town Chief, James K. Harris, along with his council of elders, hailed the proposal as a “welcoming deal,” especially under the Boakai-Koung Administration.
“For me, it is timely. We cannot keep this mountain untouched forever, while we lack good roads and electricity,” Harris stated.
However, Harris insisted that the full implementation of road projects and other development efforts must be a precondition before any agreement is finalized on the sale of the mountain.
A Troubled History of Concessions
The debates come amid public distrust in the country’s concession history.
In Lofa, for instance, companies like Sing Africa Plantation Liberia Limited, abandoned its operations in the county’s Bluyeama Community Forest after being accused of illegal logging, failing to meet social development promises, and losing community trust.
The company, according to The Day Light and several media outlets, illegally harvested over US$2.2 million worth of timber outside its approved area, but failed to fulfill its obligations to build infrastructure or support local development projects.
Frustrated by broken promises and exploitation, community members demanded the company’s removal. Facing public backlash and regulatory pressure, Sing Africa quietly withdrew, effectively “running away” without formal closure.
Similarly, Alpha logging company, Bopolu Development Corporation (BODECO) and MNG Gold, have all been accused of failing to meet community development obligations, such as providing healthcare, clean water and jobs.
Community groups continue to decry the lack of transparency and participation in concession agreements, warning that history could repeat itself if the Wologizi deal is rushed.
As discussions intensify, the future of Wologizi remains uncertain, while some Lofians believe it is time to trade resources for roads, jobs, and hospitals. Others insist the groundwork, particularly in education and accountability must come first.