Liberian Human Rights Advocate Based in Ottawa, Canada Stanley Delano Quaye in Picture
Ottawa, Canada – Liberian human rights advocate Stanley Delano Quaye, based in Ottawa, Canada, is calling on President Joseph Boakai to publicly disclose the details of his recent visit to Washington, D.C., and outline what tangible benefits Liberians stand to gain from the trip.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)- [email protected]
Prior to President Boakai’s departure for the U.S., Quaye had cautioned the Liberian leader against entering what he described as “bogus mineral agreements,” warning that such deals must be in the best interest of the Liberian people.
“The United States does not care about Liberia. All the U.S. wants is unlimited access to Liberia’s critical mineral wealth,” Quaye said. “Therefore, any such deal must serve the interests of Liberians.”
Now that the President has returned from the high-level summit— hosted by U.S. President Donald J. Trump—Quaye says there has been little to no public disclosure, raising concerns among Liberians both at home and in the diaspora.
In an interview with FrontPage Africa, Quaye alleged that “credible information exists” that lobbyists for Ivanhoe Mines facilitated a meeting between Presidents Boakai and Trump, and that in return, the mining company was promised unrestricted access to Liberia’s railway infrastructure—an arrangement Quaye says violates Liberia’s mining laws.
“President Boakai is planning to accept a mineral deal in the U.S. that would give foreign companies unlimited access to Liberia’s critical minerals with no clear benefits for the Liberian people,” he said. “I’m calling on the President to disclose all agreements and discussions that took place in Washington.”
When asked about Trump’s controversial remarks questioning President Boakai’s English proficiency, Quaye said the comment underscores U.S. policymakers’ ignorance and disregard for Liberia.
“They don’t care to know about Liberia. All they want is access to our natural resources,” he said. “The Liberian people should be deeply alarmed by the mineral and migrant deals the President may be committing us to.”
Quaye also alleged that President Boakai and three other African heads of state were pressured to accept a migrant deal, which would allow the resettlement of undocumented immigrants from the U.S. into their countries.
“While in Washington, President Trump pushed Boakai and the other African leaders to accept illegal immigrants from the United States,” Quaye claimed. “We must stop believing that Liberia has a special relationship with the U.S. These deals will only lead to the looting of our country while we remain in poverty.”
The government has denied allegations that it accepted a deal to bring in migrant deposited from the U.S. In an exlcusive interview with FrontPage Africa, President Boakai said he was not pressure
