Monrovia, Liberia – June 26, 2026 – The Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) has stepped up to advocate for the residents of Korninga-A community in Gbarpolu County, formally calling on J. Rudolph Merab, the Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) to voice their concerns about the ongoing delays in approving a Commercial Use Contract (CUC) with Coveiyalah Investment Enterprises.
This contract, which was signed back in February 2026 with the FDA's oversight, has been stuck in limbo for almost three months now, leaving community members worried about the project's future and the benefits they were counting on.
In a letter signed by SDI Executive Director Wilfred Gray-Johnson on Friday, June 26, 2026, the organization pointed out that Liberia's Community Rights Law of 2009 requires logging companies to undergo a detailed vetting process before they can get the green light.
SDI insists that this law is crucial for verifying a company's legal standing, operational capabilities, and commitment to managing forest resources responsibly, all in the interest of community welfare and transparency in forest governance.
On top of the delays, SDI has raised concerns that Coveiyalah Investment Enterprises has not met several key obligations outlined in the contract. SDI highlighted that the company has yet to hold the required inception meeting, which should have happened within a month of signing, and missed the quarterly meeting that was supposed to take place on June 20, 2026.
SDI argues that these oversights are serious breaches of the agreement and have put the project on hold, robbing the people of Korninga-A of valuable job opportunities, educational support, and a chance for better livelihoods. The organization is now demanding answers from the FDA regarding the reasons behind the delayed approval, whether the Authority is aware that the company hasn't started operations, and if they understand the negative impact this delay is having on the community.
The complaint highlights a serious concern. It says the ongoing lack of action could seriously damage the community's trust in Liberia's forest governance system. This, in turn, threatens the country's efforts to foster sustainable forest management and support rural development. SDI is urging the FDA to promptly approve the contract where it makes sense, enforce compliance with its terms, and make sure that the rights and expectations of the Korninga-A community are honored. As of the time this was published, the Forestry Development Authority had not yet made a public statement regarding the complaint.