Ben Ben Town Residents Claim Officials Backing Illegal Miners
By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
BEN BEN TOWN, Liberia – Citizens of Ben Ben Town in District #1, Montserrado County have accused the Ministry of Mines and Energy of colluding with an individual, Richard Kollie, to illegally take over their mining area, but the Mines Ministry says no one has legitimate claim to the mining are.
Residents claim that Kollie, with the backing of certain ministry officials, criminally entered their mining site and has since changed the Town’s original license in his favor.
The mining area, located behind Bentol in Mount Coffee Township, has long been operated by the town until its license reportedly expired.
The allegations surfaced after a mediation meeting held in Ben Ben Town on Sunday, April 27, 2025, by Assistant Minister for Mines, Carlos E. Tingban.
Minister Tingban disclosed that after reviewing both parties’ licenses and explanations, it was determined that neither Ben Ben Town nor Kollie has a legal claim to the disputed area, which is government-owned.
He recommended a GPS survey be conducted to clarify boundaries if both parties remained unsatisfied.
Tingban instructed that representatives from both sides sign a Memorandum of Understanding to present to the ministry, outlining how they could potentially share access to the area.
However, the GPS survey failed to proceed after Richard Kollie, who had initially presented his license, later claimed it was missing.
Despite repeated pleas from the town’s citizens, the Ministry of Mines and Energy has yet to act further, raising suspicions among residents.
Speaking to www.newspublictrust.com on Sunday, April 27, 2025, the Chairlady of Ben Ben Town, Miatta Williams, accused the ministry of “compromising” the case and neglecting the community’s welfare.
Madam Williams said Kollie’s illegal operations since 2020 have left the town without basic services like clean drinking water, a school, or a clinic.
“We don’t want Richard Kollie here,” she said. “He stole our license, and now he’s causing health problems and damaging our buildings with his operations.”
Madam Williams also noted several environmental and health hazards from Kollie’s mining activities, including dust pollution and cracked buildings caused by machinery.
Isaac G. Youngar, the town’s spokesperson, urged citizens to remain peaceful and patient but stressed the need for the ministry to resume the suspended GPS survey to settle the dispute.
According to Younger, they have accepted the intervention by the Ministry of Mine and Energy for the sack of peace but requested the ministry to do a GPS Survey of the disputed mining area.
Younger further accused a Deputy Inspector General of Mines of intimidating residents and siding with Kollie.
In late 2024, the Ministry of Mines and Energy imposed a ban on all activities in the disputed area until the conflict is resolved—a resolution residents say has yet to materialize.