The management of Universal Forestry Corporation (UFC) has refuted allegations that it has gone into dubious deal with some officials of Nimba County to operate the Gboanipea Gold Mine near Tappita.
Front Page Africa recently quoting Rep. Larry P. Younquoi (Nimba District #8) reported that Senator Prince Johnson and Rep. Dorwohn T. Gleekia (Nimba District #6) along with some local authorities allegedly enter into a secret gold mining agreement with UFC.
Rep. Younquoi also claimed that the Superintendent of Nimba County, D. Dorr Cooper and some members of the County’s Legislative Caucus are unaware of the agreement.
However, in a statement issued on last Sunday the company, through its Public Relations Officer, Samuel D. Larmah and Site Engineer, Austin M. Kruah stated that the company is licensed by the government to operate the Gboanipea Gold Mines contrary to the allegation.
The statement added: “To put the record straight, let it be known that the Universal Forestry Corporation (UFC) is a legally registered business entity that has ‘Dealership License’ and has been doing business in the Republic of Liberia over the past two decades.
The Universal Forestry Corporation (UFC) doesn’t only have Mineral Property (concession) in Nimba County but also in Sinoe and Gbarpolu Counties respectively.”
The company continues: “In regards to the Gboanipea Gold mining area, the company, after being duly licensed by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Mines and Energy to do Class B mining at the Gboanipea Mines in Tappita District, and after presenting a letter from the Ministry of Mines and Energy to the local authorities to go in to a social agreement with said company (UFC).”
The release added that the “company and the community entered into the social agreement with inputs and the consent of the County Superintendent on June 16, 2019.”
“We want to notify the public that the Universal Forestry Corporation (UFC) is in no way carrying out secret or illegal mining activities as mentioned by Representative Larry P. Younquoi in the FrontPage Africa News Paper.” on
Gboanipea mine incident
In early February this year, about 40 miners were buried under mud and debris while in search for gold in the Kartee gold mines located in Gboanipea, about 10 kilometers away from Tappita, in District Number Six, Nimba County.
Five bodies were been recovered while three persons were rescued and taken to the hospital.
PUP saga
it can be recalled that in 2015, the Management team of UFC appeared in court to give original copy of alleged “bribery receipt” in a US$6M Private Use Permit (PUP) case involving four former senior managers of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and a senior surveyor of the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy.
Universal Forest Corporation, was accused of paying a bribe to get the permit.
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