The Government of Liberia has announced a major reduction in the cost of obtaining a mineral brokerage license--from US$1,500 to US$500--as part of sweeping reforms aimed at promoting inclusivity and expanding Liberian participation in the country's growing mineral sector.
The announcement was made by Assistant Minister for Mines, Carlos Edison-Tingban, during a one-day technical discussion with members of the Gold and Diamond Brokers Union of Liberia, led by Chairman Mohammed Sangary. The meeting focused on the government's New Fee Structure, recently approved by Minister of Mines and Energy, Wilmot Paye, and Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine K. Ngafuan.
According to Assistant Minister Edison-Tingban, the new fee adjustment is designed to make mineral brokerage more accessible to ordinary Liberians who have long been excluded from the formal sector due to high licensing costs.
"We made a conscious and deliberate decision to reduce the broker license fee from US$1,500 to US$500," Edison-Tingban explained. "This policy change is not just about lowering fees--it's about creating opportunities for more Liberians to participate in the mineral sector in a legal, transparent, and sustainable way."
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He emphasized that the Ministry's goal under the leadership of Minister Wilmot Paye is to build a fair and open business environment where brokers, dealers, and small operators can all benefit from the country's vast natural resources.
"Our focus is on inclusion and reform," the Assistant Minister added. "By reducing barriers to entry, we are expanding the space for new players, especially Liberian brokers who have the potential to contribute to national growth if given the right support."
Beyond the fee reduction, the Assistant Minister highlighted another key innovation introduced by the Ministry--digital location tracking for all licensed brokers. This new measure requires each broker to submit UTM coordinates of their business location, powered by Google cloud mapping technology.
Edison-Tingban said this initiative will help the Ministry maintain an accurate, real-time database of all registered mineral brokers, eliminating confusion and ensuring that the sector operates under proper supervision.
"One of the challenges we faced in the past was locating legitimate brokers' offices and distinguishing them from illegal operators," he noted. "With this new system, every broker will provide precise coordinates that allow the Ministry to verify their location and activities instantly. This is transparency through technology."
He added that this innovation aligns with the government's broader agenda of modernizing governance in the extractive industries and leveraging digital tools to fight illegal mining, tax evasion, and smuggling.
Responding to the new measures, members of the Gold and Diamond Brokers Union expressed strong support for the Paye-led administration's reform efforts and pledged to conduct their business within the framework of the new regulations.
Union Chairman Mohammed Sangary commended both Minister Wilmot Paye and his team for their commitment to reform and for taking tangible steps to make the mineral trade more inclusive.
"We are grateful to Minister Paye, the Assistant Minister for Mines, and the entire leadership team for these bold reforms," Sangary said. "Reducing the broker license fee to US$500 is a major relief for us. It shows that the government is serious about helping Liberians play a bigger role in the mineral economy."
Other union members--including Esiaka Konneh (popularly known as Baku), Fallah Kamara, and Alieu Sesay, Secretary General of the Union--hailed the new direction of the Ministry and praised the administration's engagement with industry stakeholders.
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"In less than two years, Minister Paye's leadership has brought meaningful changes to the Ministry," said broker Fallah Kamara. "We are seeing real results--policies that support Liberians, digital innovations for accountability, and open dialogue between government and brokers."
Assistant Minister Edison-Tingban assured the brokers that the Ministry of Mines and Energy remains committed to continuous engagement with stakeholders in the sector, noting that the success of any reform depends on collaboration and compliance.
"We see the brokers as essential partners in this process," he said. "Your cooperation will help us build a strong, transparent, and profitable mineral sector that benefits all Liberians."
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their shared commitment to promoting responsible mineral trade, strengthening regulation, and ensuring that the sector contributes meaningfully to Liberia's economic development.
