The Lofa Senior Professionals Group (LSPG), with support from the Lofa County Legislative Caucus, on Thursday, February 19, 2026, hosted a daylong orientation workshop on a proposed 10-year roadmap for the development of the Wologizi Range.
The workshop, held at Corina Hotel, brought together officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), lawmakers, Lofa University Students, and other stakeholders to deliberate on a proposed Liberian-owned mining initiative aimed at ensuring greater national benefit from the country's mineral resources.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Mines and Energy, the Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy Fahnseth Mulbah said the proposal aligns with the Ministry's Strategic Plan, particularly Goal Seven, which calls for the establishment of a national mineral company.
According to the Deputy Minister, the objective is to move away from a system where foreign companies acquire exploration licenses with minimal capital, leverage them to raise funds abroad, and eventually extract significant profits with limited national ownership.
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"The idea is to have a Liberian-owned mining company to take ownership of our mineral resources," Deputy Minister Mulbah stated, adding that the Ministry is in full support of the initiative.
However, he cautioned that the roadmap requires critical technical adjustments. He pointed out that the phased implementation plan did not clearly address the acquisition of an exploration license before proposing detailed geological, environmental, and social impact assessments.
"How do you conduct detailed geological work without first obtaining an exploration license?" he asked, describing the omission as a possible oversight.
He further noted that the timeline outlined between 2026 and 2029 appears ambitious, given that exploration activities alone could take up to three years, followed by negotiations for a Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), as well as pre-feasibility and feasibility studies.
The Deputy Minister urged the group to revisit the document, incorporate the necessary legal and procedural steps, and ensure that the roadmap reflects realistic implementation benchmarks.
Despite the concerns, he described the plan as "a good initiative" that aligns with the Ministry's development agenda through 2029.
Also speaking at the event was Senator Francis S. Dopoh II, head of the Liberia Caucus of the African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation. He said his attendance at the workshop was to listen and learn, noting that successful local ownership models in Lofa could serve as a blueprint for other regions, particularly Southeastern Liberia.
"When we studied engineering, we were taught about major mountain blocks including Wologizi, Blei and Nimba, and Putu. I know what is in Putu and Nimba, but I do not know what is in Wologizi," he said, stressing the importance of informed engagement.
He described the initiative as potentially historic, noting that it could be among the first instances where Liberians collectively make decisions about the exploitation of their own mineral wealth.
On behalf of the AMDA Caucus, he pledged legislative support and emphasized the importance of transparency, domestic revenue mobilization, and alignment with the African Mining Vision. "We will learn from you and replicate it in the Southeast," he assured participants.
The Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority, Rudolph Merab, underscored the need for sustainable resource governance, noting that Liberia's past extractive activities often left environmental degradation with limited long-term economic transformation.
He stressed that future resource exploitation must prioritize environmental sustainability, skills development, value addition, and community participation. According to him, Liberia must adopt a development strategy that ensures responsible management of natural resources while catalyzing industrial growth and long-term economic resilience.
"The time has come for a better approach -- one that promotes transparency, strong political will, and meaningful participation of local businesses and communities," he said.
Providing an overview, a member of the Lofa Senior Professionals Group, Mr. Ounzuba Kemeh-Gama, a technology professional, explained that the initiative was independently conceived by Lofa professionals seeking to rethink how natural resources can better serve national development.
He traced the origin of the discussions to comments by Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah encouraging resource exploitation to drive development, which sparked debate among Lofa professionals about whether to preserve resources for future generations or utilize them now. The consensus, he said, was that Liberia cannot afford to leave resources idle indefinitely, particularly as global technological shifts may reduce the value of certain minerals over time.
However, he acknowledged that past mining operations such as LAMCO and Bong Mines left behind environmental scars and limited lasting development benefits.
"Most of what we remember today are holes in the ground," he remarked, emphasizing the group's determination not to repeat past mistakes.
Mr. Kemeh-Gama clarified that the group is not government-established but a voluntary body of professionals from Lofa, primarily based in Monrovia, working collaboratively with lawmakers and other stakeholders to refine the proposal.
The workshop provided participants the opportunity to review the roadmap, offer technical input, and ensure that any future development of the Wologizi Range prioritizes transparency, national ownership, and sustainable economic growth.
The newly formed group, made up of professionals in economics, geology, medicine, law, technology, forestry, and community leadership, says the initiative seeks to promote sustainable development in Lofa County through greater national ownership of mineral resources.
The LSPG is proposing a shift away from Liberia's traditional concession-based mining system which, it argues, has historically limited local ownership and value addition. Drawing lessons from past mining operations in areas such as Bomi Hills and Yekepa, the group says its new model emphasizes partnership, community participation, and strategic collaboration with African and Asian investors.
Ownership and Investment Plan
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The proposal outlines a three-tier ownership structure as Government of Liberia - 40%, Strategic Investor - 40%, and Community Trust - 20%
To implement the plan, the group proposes establishing the Wologizi Development Corporation (WDC) to oversee operations and mobilize investment, including shareholding opportunities for Liberians at home and abroad.
Total projected investment over the 10-year period is estimated between US$1.5 billion and US$2.5 billion.
Environmental and Social Focus
The roadmap includes commitments to zero-deforestation mining practices, land reclamation, renewable energy use, and the allocation of at least 10% of net profits to a Community Trust Fund for education, health, and infrastructure.
Employment targets aim for 30% Liberian participation in early stages, increasing to 60% by 2033.
Next Steps
The LSPG plans to present the roadmap to county leaders, national authorities, and relevant ministries, while working with the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the National Investment Commission to develop enabling legislation.
The group says the initiative represents a new vision for resource sovereignty and inclusive industrialization, positioning Lofa County as a potential model for responsible mineral development in Liberia.
The proposed initiative, stakeholders agree, represents an attempt to redefine Liberia's approach to mineral resource management placing Liberians at the center of decisions concerning their natural wealth.
