By Alfred Kollie
The Chairman of the pro-democracy group Give Liberia Economy Back to Liberians, James Emmanuel Brooks, is calling on the government to revisit all concession agreements to ensure that Liberians fully benefit from the country’s natural resources.
Brooks, whose organization operates under the principles of fairness, honesty, and national empowerment, emphasized the need for Liberia’s resources to be managed in the best interest of its citizens. He said reviewing existing concession agreements would strengthen policies aimed at promoting greater local participation and economic inclusion.
According to him, Liberia remains rich in natural resources but continues to struggle economically due to poor management and limited local control.
“God has blessed this country with abundant resources, yet we remain among the poorest because we are not effectively managing what we have,” Brooks noted. He expressed concern that, despite being 178 years old, Liberia still heavily depends on foreign aid.
“It is a shame that we continue to rely on foreign partners when we have the capacity to do more for ourselves,” he added.
Brooks clarified that his organization is not opposed to foreign investment but stressed that such partnerships must prioritize Liberian interests.
“We welcome genuine investors, but their engagements must be structured in a way that benefits Liberians directly,” he said.
The pro-democracy advocate also criticized national leadership, attributing the country’s underdevelopment to leaders who, according to him, fail to listen to the voices of ordinary citizens.
He argued that leaders often prioritize the opinions of a few close advisors over the needs of the broader population.
Speaking in an interview in Monrovia, Brooks further observed that citizens who empower leaders through the democratic process are often neglected once those leaders assume office a situation he described as both troubling and unjust.
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