By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY – A prominent activist in Nimba, Armstrong Gobac Selekpoh, has strongly dismissed the recent wave of criticisms against ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) made by Nimba Senator Nya Twayen, calling them dishonest and deceitful.
Senator Twayen held a news conference on Tuesday, where he rejected AML’s investment in Liberia and accused the company of failing to honor its mineral development agreement with the government.
In response, Selekpoh said that Senator Twayen, who has become increasingly unpopular in less than a year, is now using ArcelorMittal as a political tool to regain favor with his constituents.
“He sees the current superintendent of Nimba as a threat to his senate seat, especially since the superintendent has been mobilizing the people of Nimba to make their views heard in the new Mineral Development Agreement (MDA),” Selekpoh explained. “This unsettles Nya, so instead of focusing on real issues, he attacks AML.”
Selekpoh further criticized Senator Twayen’s record, noting, “Throughout his years in government, while at NASSCORP, Nya rarely attended meetings about concessions and never supported student groups or community development initiatives.”
He recalled that in July 2013, Twayen defended the government’s decision to seize the Nimba County social development fund to compensate for damages caused by citizens, a move Selekpoh says benefited Nya while he was at NASSCORP.
“Nya doesn’t care about the nearly 10,000 jobs AML has created. Instead, he’s intent on pushing the company out of Liberia with his shameful comments.”
Selekpoh also noted that Senator Twayen only began criticizing AML after recently returning from the United States.
Highlighting AML’s positive contributions, Selekpoh shared, “Recently, AML administered lab tests to about 1,000 youths from the fenceline communities.
From those results, some youths will attend the Vocational Training Center (VTC), over 80 are being processed for the Apprenticeship Development Training (ADT), and 150 have been recruited directly for various jobs that were previously hard to obtain.”
He posed a rhetorical question: “Who will continue to support Nimba University annually with $50,000 if ArcelorMittal Liberia leaves?”
Selekpoh also pointed out AML’s investment in employee welfare, noting, “In recent months, AML has sent over 10 employees abroad for medical treatment—in India and other countries—because such services are not available locally.”
Senator Twayen’s criticisms come less than a week after Vice President Boakai and ArcelorMittal Executive Chairman Lakshmi Mittal inaugurated Liberia and West Africa’s first iron ore concentrator, part of AML’s phase two expansion project that will create about 5,000 local jobs.
This project, valued at approximately $2 billion, includes new investments in rail, port infrastructure, processing facilities, and training programs.
Selekpoh described Senator Twayen as a failing politician aiming to disrupt ongoing negotiations between the government and AML. “AML has achieved a lot, yet the senator dishonestly ignores the company’s successes, including the fulfillment of 14 of the 21 commitments under the MDA.”
He detailed AML’s accomplishments, including substantial progress on six commitments such as regular reporting, 58% local procurement (with no target specified), adequate medical care, and overseas training for 54 staff members.
Other commitments still in progress include quarterly environmental protection agency (EPA) reports, planting 150,000 indigenous trees, 25 conservation agreements, and ongoing biodiversity and waste management programs in Nimba.
“We are not against those who criticize ArcelorMittal, but no serious senator who wants development in his county would dismiss such an important investment as if it meant nothing,” Selekpoh concluded.
