Liberian VP Koung Challenges Africa to Convert Mineral Wealth into Industrial Prosperity

MONROVIA — Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung has urged African leaders to break the continent’s reliance on raw mineral exports and adopt a unified industrialization strategy that converts vast mineral resources into jobs, manufacturing capacity, infrastructure, and sustainable economic growth.

Speaking on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai at the Africa Minerals Policy Forum — Mining in Motion 2026 in Accra, Ghana, on Monday, Koung outlined five priorities for transforming Africa’s mining sector: local mineral processing, stronger regulatory institutions, community benefits, responsible small-scale mining, and fair investment partnerships.

Addressing the forum under the theme “One Continent, One Policy — Aligning Africa’s Mineral Future,” the Liberian vice president warned that Africa continues to forfeit significant economic value because the bulk of wealth generated from its mineral resources is captured abroad.

“Our theme asks us to confront a familiar contradiction: Africa possesses immense mineral wealth, yet too many of our people see little lasting benefit from its extraction,” Koung said. He argued that the continent’s longstanding dependence on exporting raw or minimally processed minerals has allowed other nations to reap disproportionate rewards in skilled employment, advanced technology, manufacturing, and commercial profits.

Koung noted that surging global demand for minerals critical to renewable energy, digital technology, and manufacturing presents an opportunity for African countries to expand industrial capacity and secure greater economic returns. “The question is how we turn that wealth into productive industries, decent jobs, reliable infrastructure, and better lives,” he said. “We must approach it with clear priorities and stronger cooperation.”

The vice president stressed that African nations must pursue common policy objectives without compromising national sovereignty, environmental safeguards, or their legitimate share of mining revenues. He cautioned against weakening regulations or surrendering reasonable revenue streams simply to attract foreign investment.

Koung cited the Africa Mining Vision as an existing framework linking mineral development to energy, transport, agriculture, manufacturing, skills development, and technological advancement, but emphasized that the continent must move beyond declarations toward practical investments and measurable outcomes.

Five Priorities for Transformation

First, build African value chains backed by dependable energy and infrastructure. Processing and manufacturing require affordable electricity, efficient transport, modern ports, skilled workers, and market access. “A mineral deposit alone cannot sustain an industry,” Koung said. He urged governments to coordinate mining-related infrastructure investments so that power and transport projects also benefit households, local businesses, and other productive sectors.

Regional cooperation is critical, he added, noting that African countries possess complementary resources — one may supply minerals while another provides electricity, processing facilities, or market access. The African Continental Free Trade Area offers a mechanism to connect these resources through coordinated regional investments.

Second, strengthen geological knowledge and public institutions. Governments need reliable resource data to value concessions and negotiate sound agreements. Geological surveys, laboratories, and secure digital information systems are essential investments. Koung advocated transparent revenue management, effective regulatory bodies, and cooperation on taxation, beneficial ownership, local content requirements, and mineral resource reporting. Compatible standards for geological data and mineral classification would strengthen bargaining power and reduce harmful competition for investment.

“Africa must understand the value of what it possesses before negotiating the terms of its development,” he declared.

Third, make tangible benefits for mining communities a central measure of success. Affected communities must participate meaningfully in decisions concerning their land, livelihoods, and natural resources. Mining agreements should guarantee fair compensation, employment, local procurement, environmental protection, and access to essential services. Mine closure and livelihood restoration plans must be developed and funded from the outset.

Women, youth, and persons with disabilities must have equitable access to employment, training, and business opportunities arising from mineral development. Communities should continue benefiting from infrastructure and alternative economic opportunities long after commercial extraction ends.

Fourth, support responsible artisanal and small-scale mining. The sector sustains thousands of families across the continent. Accessible licensing, technical assistance, safer methods, finance, and legitimate markets can improve livelihoods and strengthen traceability. These efforts must accompany firm action against smuggling, child labor, and criminal exploitation. Koung urged governments to simplify licensing, improve access to financing and technical support, and establish legitimate markets for small-scale miners.

Fifth, pursue fair investment partnerships backed by transparent agreements, technology transfer, and measurable economic benefits. “Our partnerships should be assessed by the skills transferred, businesses developed, industries established, and public value created, alongside production and export revenues,” Koung said. African countries should evaluate mining investments not only by output and export earnings but by contributions to local enterprise, industrial development, employment, and public revenue.

He urged leaders to engage international partners on the basis of fairness, transparency, and respect for sovereignty. “We should welcome mutually beneficial cooperation without allowing our continent to become an arena for geopolitical rivalry.”

Koung identified the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, African Union, African Minerals Development Center, and regional institutions as key partners in coordinating mineral policies and monitoring implementation.

Liberia’s Domestic Agenda

The vice president outlined Liberia’s mineral development priorities under President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development: strengthening geological information systems, modernizing mineral licensing, improving revenue transparency, and increasing local participation in mining-related businesses.

“We seek to make mineral resources a foundation for economic diversification, infrastructure, and improved public services,” Koung said. Priorities include better geological data, modern licensing and cadastre systems, transparent revenues, stronger local procurement, greater domestic value addition, safer artisanal mining, stronger environmental management, and sustainable livelihoods for mining communities.

He emphasized Liberia’s commitment to responsible mine closure and alternative livelihoods for extraction-dependent communities, stressing that planning for post-mining futures must begin while operations are still generating revenue. Liberia stands ready to cooperate with neighbors through the Mano River Union, ECOWAS, and continental institutions to develop shared infrastructure and regional processing industries.

Proposals for Concrete Action

Moving beyond the five priorities, Koung proposed several measures to produce practical outcomes from the Accra forum: a common African mineral policy compact establishing shared principles for responsible development; a regional value-addition roadmap identifying priority processing and manufacturing projects; stronger cooperation on geological information, local content, and technology transfer backed by financing for viable regional projects; coordinated action against illicit mineral trading and financial flows; and annual ministerial reviews to assess progress.

“An annual review should be supported by a transparent performance dashboard covering project preparation, investment, local procurement, skills development, and community outcomes,” he stressed. “Comparable information would help us identify delays, learn from successful approaches, and direct political attention to obstacles that require collective action.”

Koung concluded by reminding leaders that the continent’s mineral resources belong not only to the present generation but to future ones. “Our success will be measured in the opportunities it creates for our people and the strength of the communities and institutions it leaves behind.”

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