MONROVIA — Political leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander B. Cummings, has called for a sweeping overhaul of Liberia’s concession regime, warning that the country continues to lose billions in natural resource wealth under an outdated and ineffective system.
In a wide-ranging commentary released via his new podcast platform, Cummings sharply questioned whether Liberia is receiving fair value from its natural resources, particularly in light of ongoing public debate surrounding mining operations such as Bea Mountain.
“Are we getting the value we need from our natural resources so we can develop our country?” Cummings asked. “So we can pay our civil servants, our police officers, our military people, our healthcare workers?”
He stressed that the issue extends beyond any single company, describing it instead as a systemic failure in how Liberia negotiates and manages concession agreements.
“This issue is not about Bea Mountain,” he said. “This is about the whole concession regime—how we go about getting value from our natural resources.”
Cummings argued that the current concession model, originally developed during the post-war period, is no longer suitable for Liberia’s present-day economic realities. He noted that while earlier agreements reflected the risks investors faced at the time, successive governments have continued to apply similar frameworks without meaningful reform.
“We keep doing the same things over and over, and we are not getting different results,” he said, invoking Albert Einstein’s well-known warning against repeating ineffective strategies.
Drawing on real-life examples, Cummings highlighted the case of Weasua, once known as Liberia’s diamond hub, where he said communities remain underdeveloped despite years of resource extraction.
“The diamonds are mostly gone, but there are no good schools, no hospitals, no electricity,” he said. “This is what happens when you don’t get fair value—our people continue to suffer.”
To address these challenges, Cummings proposed alternative models, including production-sharing agreements and the creation of a national resource company that would allow Liberians to directly benefit from the extraction and sale of natural resources.
“Production sharing is simpler,” he explained. “We take a percentage of what is extracted, sell it ourselves, and use the money to develop our country.”
He also pointed to international examples such as Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant Aramco, arguing that Liberia could adopt similar approaches to maximize returns from its natural wealth.
At the same time, Cummings did not rule out the role of foreign investors but emphasized the need for balanced arrangements.
“It has to be a win-win,” he said. “Companies should make a return, but not an exorbitant return while Liberians continue to suffer.”
Cummings further raised concerns about transparency and accountability within Liberia’s resource management institutions, urging authorities to strengthen monitoring systems and fully understand the value chain of extracted resources.
“From the time a shovel enters the ground to the time shareholders are paid, we must understand that entire process,” he said.
While clarifying that existing agreements should be honored, he stressed that future contracts must reflect a new approach focused on maximizing national benefit.
“The old concession model has not worked. It is broken,” Cummings declared. “We must change how we do business if we want different results.”
He concluded with a call for bold leadership and national reflection, urging Liberians to demand better governance and more equitable management of the country’s resources.
“Liberia deserves better,” he said. “We cannot keep doing the same things and expect different outcomes.”
Cummings’ remarks come amid growing national debate over resource governance, as calls intensify for reforms that ensure Liberia’s natural wealth translates into tangible development for its citizens.
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