Liberia: Labor Ministry Rejects Mansa Resources' Applications for Foreign Workers' Permits Over Gross Violations - Orders Local Advertisement of Vacancies

What the report says

Liberia’s Ministry of Labour has rejected work permit applications for three expatriate employees linked to Mansa Resources, the company seeking to take control of the Dugbe Gold Project. According to FrontPageAfrica, the ministry said the company did not follow required employment procedures and had not first advertised the positions locally, which is meant to give qualified Liberian applicants a chance to compete.

The applications, submitted on June 18, 2026, covered a chief surveyor from Papua New Guinea, a maintenance superintendent from Australia and a commercial manager from South Africa. The ministry denied the requests on July 21 and instructed the company to place the vacancies in at least two local newspapers for 30 days before resubmitting. It also reminded the employer that foreign nationals must have valid permits to work in Liberia and that penalties can apply under the Decent Work Act of 2015.

The decision comes while the government is still reviewing a Change of Control request tied to the Dugbe Gold Project, which adds to scrutiny over whether the company is meeting labour and concession obligations. FrontPageAfrica reported that the project’s Mineral Development Agreement includes preferences for hiring Liberians and targets for Liberian representation in management over time.

The article said Mansa Resources and Hummingbird Resources (Liberia) Inc. had not commented by publication time. FrontPageAfrica also noted that allegations about additional foreign personnel could not be independently verified.