Concerns have been raised regarding the Government of Liberia’s closed-door signing ceremony with HPX-Ivanhoe, as media access was denied.
The Government of Liberia and Ivanhoe Liberia, a subsidiary of the American majority-owned High Power Exploration (HPX), signed a closed-door concession agreement.
Ivanhoe Liberia specializes in mining infrastructure and plays a key role in the proposed “Liberty Corridor,” a cross-border initiative aimed at exporting iron ore from Guinea through Liberia.
Local media were initially invited to cover the signing ceremony scheduled for Saturday, July 5, 2025. However, they were later informed that the event had been postponed.
On Sunday, July 6, another invitation was sent out, but after journalists waited for hours, they were informed that access had been denied to all media outlets due to protocol changes reportedly initiated by the Ministers of Justice, Finance, and Mines & Energy.
The decision to bar the media from such a significant agreement—especially on a Sunday—raises concerns about transparency and public accountability.
This closed-door signing occurs amid ongoing tensions between HPX and ArcelorMittal over control of Liberia’s rail and port infrastructure, a critical issue in the broader debate about iron ore exports.
During the previous administration of George Weah, HPX provided the government with an initial $30 million as part of a deal, but no formal agreement was signed.
This signing takes place as President Boakai prepares to leave Liberia this week to attend a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. The meeting is expected to focus on commercial diplomacy, which is a primary goal of the current U.S. administration.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Liberian government agency responsible for mining, has yet to comment on the latest information.
