Grand Bassa District #3 Representative Matthew Joe has expressed concerns regarding a recently signed US$1.8 billion concession agreement between the Government of Liberia and U.S.-based company Ivanhoe Atlantic. He questions whether the Legislature was intentionally excluded from the process, highlighting that the deal may have been executed without the necessary legislative oversight. Joe raised his concerns on Facebook, questioning the secrecy of the agreement, which was signed on a Sunday, and suggesting political motivations behind its timing, particularly in relation to President Joseph Boakai’s invitation to the USA.

While the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia praised the agreement as a significant step towards Liberia’s infrastructure development and a shift from foreign aid dependence to sustainable trade, Joe and other critics argue that such a substantial deal should not be made without the consent of the elected legislative body. There are growing calls for transparency and a thorough review of the agreement’s legality and terms.