Supporting Communities Harmed by the New Liberty Gold Mine through Advocacy and Mediation

Project Title: Supporting Communities Harmed by the New Liberty Gold Mine through Advocacy and Mediation

Objective: To ensure that Community Harmed by the NLGMP in Grand Cape Mount County get Redress

Location: Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County

Supported by: Inclusive Development International (IDI) 2020 – 2024

In 2021 with the support of RRF and the Inclusive Development International (IDI) a US based International NGO five communities (Jikandor, Jawajeh, Jenneh Brown, kinjor, and Gold Camp) harmed by the New Liberty Gold Mine in Liberia had a complaint filed and accepted against the German and French national development banks – DEG and Proparco to the Independent Complaint Mechanism (ICM) – for their links to the project through investments in FirstRand, a South African commercial bank that lent millions of dollars to the New Liberty Gold Mine project.

To make way for the New Liberty Gold Mine, 325 families in two villages, Old Kinjor and Larjor, had to abandon their homes, farms, and artisanal mines that had provided some income. In return for their move to a new village, the company promised to make life better by improving the livelihood and social needs of the communities: new houses, a school, a clinic, hand pumps, and jobs. All these were broken promises, further pushing the people into poverty.

Not only that social services based on laws and agreements were not provided, but the company constantly polluted the environment and water bodies of the communities noticeable in 2016, and recently in 2021. In March 2016 the spilled cyanide and arsenic into a river that people rely on for fish and drinking water caused severe impact on the livelihood and health of the communities.

Between 2022 to now several agreements/ resolutions on different subjects have been reached between the complaint communities and the company through the ICM-led mediation supported by RRF with the participation of key government institutions: Internal Affairs, National Bureau of Concession, Justice, EPA, Mines and Energy, etc.

This summary report documents the achievements and impacts of the ICM-led mediation on the complaint communities in compliance with the obligation of the company agreed at the mediation.

The Following are Achievements Documented under the ICM Led-Mediation:

The construction of a solar-powered water tower in the town of Jawajeh Marvo, brings relief to the community that had suffered so long for safe drinking water due to the alleged pollution of the surrounding water bodies by the company.

The Newly Constructed Solar Powered Water Tower in Jawajeh

The pavement of the 22-kilometer road from Daniel’s Town to Kinjor Town a major corridor that links the mine and various communities to the capital city of Monrovia and the commercial boarder post with Sierra Leon.

The maintenance of the 16-kilometer laterite road from Kinjor to Jenneh Brown in 2020, a major corridor that links the mining communities and other satellite villages.

The repair of the Jikandor road by the company in August 2023 after being abandoned for so long by the company. The three-kilometer road which was a death trip and difficult for vehicular movement is now repaired for the free movement of goods and services.

Construction of the Jawajeh Guest House under the Manvoh land lease agreement. A multiple-room guest house to cater to the needs of guest accommodation was completed in October 2024. This is a sustainability project for raising funds.

The construction of the technical school in Kinjor by the company under the Marvoh land lease agreement to provide technical education for the affected communities. The school is the first technical school within the community and will support the labor force of the company in various disciplines. The construction clinic facilities both the maternity waiting from and the nurse’s quarter were constructed by the clan development fund in the town of Mbalomah.

Empowered 21 women in Jawajeh, Jenneh Brown, and Jikandor with business loan of USD 150 each. The subsidy of the health center in Kinjor. The company is paying incentives to the health workers posted at the Kinjor health center to support the government health facility. The renovation of the primary school in Jenneh Brown under the company’s corporate social responsibility with the grant amount of USD 3,000.