By:Sampson W Weah
Capitol Hill, Monrovia — Montserrado County Senator Saah H. Joseph has raised serious concerns over the amended Liberia Petroleum Refining Corporation (LPRC) Act, warning that the law could weaken national development efforts and create added pressure on future government budgets.
Speaking during an emergency Senate session on March 18 at Capitol Hill, Senator Joseph said the Act, as passed, does not do enough to ensure that ordinary Liberians benefit from the corporation’s operations, despite its importance to the country’s economy.
“We cannot continue to pass laws that strengthen institutions without directly impacting the lives of our people,” Joseph said. “The LPRC must not only generate revenue but must be legally required to give back to the citizens of this country.”
The Montserrado County lawmaker proposed that the law include a provision requiring the LPRC to allocate at least 10 percent of its annual profits to corporate social responsibility programs. According to him, such a measure would ensure that communities across the country feel the impact of the corporation’s work.
“This is about accountability and fairness,” he added. “If LPRC is to benefit from national resources, then the Liberian people must see and feel those benefits in their communities.”
Senator Joseph also warned that without clear social investment requirements, the gap between the corporation’s earnings and its impact on citizens will continue to grow, potentially weakening public trust in state-owned institutions.
He stressed that national resources must translate into visible improvements in people’s lives.
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