By Our Staff writer
The National Identification Registry (NIR) in Liberia has expressed concern over the alarming infiltration of Liberia’s mining sector by aliens working under ground.
From the West to the north and southeast of Liberia, there have in recent times been many reports of illegal mining activities being carried out, mainly by foreigners using dredges and they have been polluting some rivers and creeks.
According to Liberia County Commercial Guide https://www.export.gov/article?id=Liberia-Mining “Liberia has rich mineral deposits and historically, mineral extraction–particularly of iron ore, gold and diamonds–has been one of the leading export sectors for the country. The major minerals are mainly exported in a raw or semi-finished form. In addition to large iron ore deposits, there are substantial diamond and gold deposits as well as indications of manganese, bauxite, uranium, zinc, and lead deposits. Diamond deposits, primarily exploited via alluvial and artisanal diamond mining, are widespread in most parts of the country.”
Mines and Energy Minister, Gesler E. Murray has also noted that the mining sector has attracted so many people from the sub-region to the country and emphasized the “economic, security and social implications of their presence in the bushes of Liberia.”
He described the aliens who are trooping into the country in search of gold and diamonds as “mining dissidents” and said his ministry and the NIR will involve the Liberia Immigration Service in documenting the aliens.
The Liberian Mines Minister was speaking at an orientation workshop held recently at the Ministry to explain to mining stakeholders the essence of documenting them. The workshop brought together nearly 200 (two hundred) mining agents, mineral inspectors, mineral license holders and other stakeholders in the mining sector.
The Ministry in collaboration with the National Identification Registry (NIR) has begun documenting mining agents, mineral inspectors, mineral license holders and all those transacting operating within the alluvial mining sector.
The documentation calls for the issuance of a National Identification Card from the NIR and an Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Identification Card (ASMID), designed by the Ministry.
“The mining sector has become a major source of income for thousands of people and it was important for the government to have information on all those involved in it,” Minister Murray said.
In July this year, the Ministry of Mines and Energy requested the National Identification Registry to “issue Biometric National Identification Cards to all Liberians and foreign residents who reside and work in the ASM Sector in Liberia.”
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That communication was followed by a joint press conference hosted by the two agencies to announce government’s decision to issue “Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Identification Cards to all miners and other actors involved in artisanal and small-scale mining activities so as to establish a comprehensive database of those involved in the sector across the country.”