This briefing paper investigates the operations of Akewa Group of Companies, Liberia Incorporated and the Bea Mountain Mining Corporation in Gola Konneh community forest, Grand Cape Mount County. It highlights concerns around the overlap of a forest management permit and at least two mining permits and points to a lack of policy coherence betwen the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) that might otherwise prevent such overlapping permits. The situation is exacerbated by allegations of mining also being carrried out by the logging company, by pitsawing taking place in the community forest, and by delays in holding elections for the community forest representatives.
In summary the recommendations are:
- The MME, and the FDA should coordinate more to address the issue of overlaps between mining concessions and community forests.
- The FDA needs to support the community to hold the elections of its forestry committee members by witnessing and endorsing the votes.
- The newly elected community committees should put a halt to pitsawing activities in the community forest.