MONROVIA – The Chief Executive Officer of Hummingbird Resources, Mr. Bright Richards, is at risk of being held in legislative contempt following his repeated failure to appear before a joint House committee investigating the status of the company’s mining concession and its reported financial obligations to the state.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
The House Joint Committee on Concessions and Investment, chaired by Bong County District 7 Representative Foday E. Fahnbulleh, has summoned Mr. Richards on three separate occasions to explain why Hummingbird Resources —granted a concession in 2019 — remains dormant and to address concerns over unpaid financial obligations, including levies reportedly owed to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA).
Despite prior invitations, Richards again failed to appear on Monday, July 28, instead sending two staff members to represent him — an act the committee deemed unacceptable and disrespectful.
In a letter read before the committee, the company informed lawmakers: “We want to inform your Honorable office that CEO Bright Richards is not in country and has designated someone from the management of Hummingbird to come and represent him as scheduled.”
However, Representative Fahnbulleh said the committee cannot accept unspecified representatives in place of the CEO without proper documentation, especially on an issue of national concern. “Mr. Richards has never shown any documents to prove he is out of the country or ill. There is no travel or health record to substantiate his excuse, nor has he officially designated a proper representative,” Rep. Fahnbulleh said. “As such, we will ask for the will and pleasure of the colleagues around the table to make a determination.”
Lawmakers in attendance expressed frustration over what they described as an ongoing pattern of disrespect and noncompliance by the CEO. Margibi County District 2 Representative Ivar K. Jones, a member of the committee, took the floor with a motion expressing concern over the concession’s failure to deliver on its intended economic impact.
“The concession is dormant,” Rep. Jones lamented. “We recalled that in 2019 when we passed this agreement —championed by our late colleague Nagbe Sloh — it was meant to create payroll for citizens, especially in underserved communities. To see that we passed a concession and yet there is no operation is frustrating.”
Rep. Jones then moved that a formal communication be sent to the company, compelling CEO Richards to appear in person. “We have written twice. Our second communication clearly stated that the CEO be present. Yet, he left the country and designated people without identifying them properly. I believe we should no longer entertain these representatives. Our concern is for the CEO to answer directly to this committee.”
He continued, “Mr. Presiding, colleagues, I move—if I can obtain a second—that we adjourn this meeting, and that the CEO of Hummingbird be written to appear in person within one week.”
The motion was seconded and subsequently amended by Nimba County District 6 Representative Dorwohn Twain Gleekia, who proposed that if CEO Richards fails to appear at the next hearing, he should be cited under legislative contempt.
Another amendment was added calling for the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) to submit all relevant financial records related to Hummingbird Resources, enabling lawmakers to fully assess the company’s financial obligations and compliance status.
All amendments were accepted, and the motion was passed unanimously, setting a final deadline for CEO Bright Richards to appear in person before the committee on Monday, August 3, 2025. Failure to do so, lawmakers warned, would result in contempt charges.
In private conversations within the corridors of the Capitol Building, two lawmakers suggested that CEO Richards could face imminent imprisonment for what they described as gross disrespect to the Legislature.
A member of the House Concessions Committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, hinted that continued noncompliance could lead to a recommendation for the revocation of Hummingbird’s concession agreement. “If the CEO refuses to appear next Monday, the committee will have no choice but to recommend appropriate actions that could see their concession agreement revoked,” the lawmaker warned.
