Liberia: A Land of Wealth without Manager

May 30, 2018 | B.J. Goodlin
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Liberia is a land filled with natural resources of wealth that hasn’t been managed shrewdly or should I put it to you that the lack of ideas or creativity to explore has been the challenge. Liberia is a nation rich with natural resources in Iron ore, gold, diamonds, and rubber, forest for logging and timber and vast agricultural land for ensuring food. With all of these resources, why is Liberia considered one of the poorest countries in the world that heavily relies on foreign assistance? Studies have shown Liberia has five major iron deposits in these regions: Bomi Hills, Mano River, Mt. Nimba South, Tokadeh, and Bong Mines. How can a country be so rich and yet poor, how is that? The only answer that comes to mind is maladministration and the absence of vision and creativity. Liberia is not a poor country as we may think; it is the nonexistence of ideas and the visions to protect its resources and to produce goods and services.  Liberia has the natural resources to manufacture, distribute and reproduce finished goods – thereby creating jobs for hundreds of people. Jobs creation helps to alleviate the high crime rate and minimizes corruption. But again, everyone wants a government job; no one pushes the idea of building a manufacturing plant or encourages the idea of government farming on a larger scale in the area of agriculture. I have not seen any product manufactured in Liberia, or a single product with a tag, “made in Liberia.” Nevertheless, concessions come and take away the country’s natural resources without creating a manufacturing plant to train and develop Liberians to take over after they leave. No corporate responsibility to build roads or improve communities.