(MONROVIA-May 10, 2008):  President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has toured facilities of concession companies operating in Buchanan Grand Bassa County, urging the companies to ensure that Liberians are placed in high positions of operations. Visiting sites hosting the operations of the World Steel giant, Arcelor-Mittal Saturday, the President said she was encouraged that the company had stepped up activities surrounding its operations since her visit last year. Arcelor-Mittal’s General Manager for Projects, Mr. Malvinder Singh, informed the President that his Company has brought in the first consignment of rail and other heavy duty equipment, worth nearly US $20-million dollars, to begin work on a 260 kilometers rail.  

An Executive Mansion release says the President also toured an area affected by erosion, urging the management of Arcelor-Mittal to assist local county authorities find temporary solutions, while government finds long-term measures to the erosion threat to Buchanan city. “I know that it is not in your operations, but I would ask you to cooperate with our superintendent and try to address some very, very difficult problems here, like the erosion and some of the road that will allow people to have access, without intruding and affecting your operations in anyway or impeding your risk factor,” the Liberian leader urged the company. 

The President also made a similar appeal when she toured the operations site of the Buchanan Renewable Energies, a multi-million dollars investment in Liberia.  Both companies have assured the President that they would work with county authorities to tackle the erosion threat. 

In a related development, the President has urged the Arcelor-Mittal Management to speed up the process under which Liberians will undergo advanced training, in keeping with an earlier agreement. “Within the next two months, those fifty people must be where they are supposed to be in training,” the Liberian leader emphasized.  

Meanwhile, President Johnson Sirleaf has urged citizens of Grand Bassa to protect the investments in their county by serving has watchdogs against anyone who may attempt to undermine the investment in the county. “Please call the authorities and tell them that somebody is doing something wrong.  Have some meetings among yourselves and tell your peers that as long as this investment goes, all of you will benefit and that will stop any kind of destruction,” the Liberian leader pleaded with citizens of the county. 

During her visit to Buchanan, the President also held talks with the Legislative Caucus of Grand Bassa County, attended also by the county’s superintendent Julia Duncan Cassell.  Responding to concerns that the Buchanan Road Project has been abandoned, the President informed the officials that work on the road will commence during the next dry season.  The President said a funding gap for the project was responsible for the delay, but said funding is being made available to begin work on the road project. 

Upon arrival in Buchanan, citizens lined the routes to welcome the President and entourage, which included Internal Affairs Minister, Ambulai Johnson, Lands Mines & Energy Minister, Dr. Eugene Shannon, as well as National Investment Chairman, Richard Tolbert.

Energy officials explaining operations to President Sirleaf PHOTO: EM

Grand Bassa citizens accord pres. Sirleaf a traditional welcome
PHOTO: Executive Mansion

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