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- Unregulated mining in Liberia is rampant, flouting all environmental norms ruining rivers and water bodies. Liberia is also a signatory of the Minamata Convention, a global treaty aiming to reduce mercury pollution.
Liberia is blessed with an abundance of mineral resources, including gold, diamonds, and iron ore. However, the same is becoming a source of danger for the environment risking the life of many locals.
Though in Paper, the mining is regulated by laws, unregulated mining in Liberia is rampant, flouting all environmental norms ruining rivers and water bodies. Liberia is also a signatory of the Minamata Convention, a global treaty aiming to reduce mercury pollution.
In response to huge public outcries that the country’s rivers were being contaminated with mining waste mechanical dredging the government in November 2019, banned the use of dredges and mercury for gold and diamond mining. Despite the regulations, Violations are taking place nationwide, according to an assessment by the Social Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development (SESDev), a nongovernmental organization
The waterways around the town of Sam Beach in Liberia’s Rivercess County that used to be a lifeline for local people, providing fish and clean water for drinking, and cooking, no longer offer clean water.
According to reports, more than 1,000 gold diggers, six licensed mining concession holders, three brokers and two large-scale mining companies — S & K Mining Corporation Limited and Gbarwor Mining Cooperative Society — are spoiling its forests and rivers in search of gold. The mining pits pose an ecological disaster endangering the communities.
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https://trendsnafrica.com/qatar-agrees-to-fund-the-second-phase-of-liberias-road-project/
The Ministry of Mines and Energy, has neither the manpower nor the resources like GPS or vehicles to undertake inspections. It has only six motorbikes for the six mining regions across the country, according to J. Obediah Arku, inspector general of mines. He added that in order to fully enforce the law his ministry needs between $6 million and $7 million.
