House Summons Several Gov’t Entities Over Ivanhoe Deal

The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Chairman of the National Investment Commission (NIC) to appear before a Joint Committee to provide a comprehensive briefing on the current status of the Implementation Agreement that governs the cross-border use of Liberia’s rail and port infrastructure by the Republic of Guinea. The summons comes amid mounting concerns among lawmakers that ongoing commercial negotiations involving Ivanhoe Liberia may conflict with Liberia’s binding bilateral obligations under the existing Liberia–Guinea framework. 

The notice to appear was communicated through Chief Clerk Mildred Sayon in a formal letter dated November 27, 2025. According to the communication, the directive emanated from Hon. Foday E. Fahnulleh, Chairman of the House Specialized Committee on the Implementation of the Access Agreement. The summoned officials are expected to appear on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. in the First Floor Conference Room of the House Wing, where the Joint Committee will interrogate the status and implications of the recently signed Implementation Agreement. The letter instructs the Minister of Justice to present a detailed account of the Implementation Agreement, signed on October 21, 2025, and ratified by both Liberia and Guinea as the legal framework for cross-border rail and port access. 

The Joint Committee—comprising members of the Committees on Investment and Concessions, Judiciary, and Transport—is particularly focused on ensuring that Liberia remains fully compliant with its bilateral commitments and does not unintentionally jeopardize relations with the Government of Guinea. Central to the Legislature’s concerns is the Ivanhoe Liberia corridor proposal, a commercial rail-port project aimed at facilitating the movement of Guinean iron ore through Liberian territory. Lawmakers worry that key elements of the proposal appear misaligned with the bilateral Implementation Agreement already in effect. 

The House cites several red flags: The Liberia–Guinea Implementation Agreement is strictly a state-to-state cooperation instrument. However, the Ivanhoe proposal appears to position the company as a primary negotiator on cross-border transport access. Lawmakers fear that allowing a private entity to take center stage could weaken Liberia’s sovereign control over decisions jointly agreed with Guinea. The Implementation Agreement mandates equal access for all Guinean mining operators. Reports suggest that Ivanhoe has requested dedicated capacity, preferential scheduling, or exclusive throughput arrangements terms that could directly contradict the non-discriminatory provisions of the bilateral agreement. 

Lawmakers note that the bilateral Implementation Agreement anticipates a unified rail-port governance system between Liberia and Guinea. Ivanhoe’s proposal, however, introduces a separate commercial governance structure that could undermine the cohesive mechanisms envisioned under the state-level agreement. Although Guinea ratified the bilateral Implementation Agreement in 2021, the Guinean government has not endorsed any rail-port corridor linked to Ivanhoe. Legislators caution that Liberia may be negotiating a commercial framework that Guinea does not support potentially placing Liberia at diplomatic risk. 

The Implementation Agreement calls for transparent coordination and information-sharing between both governments. The Legislature has raised alarms that negotiations involving Ivanhoe have not been fully disclosed to lawmakers or the public, raising potential compliance concerns. The Joint Committee seeks clarity from the Justice Minister and other summoned officials on several critical questions, including: 

• Whether aspects of the Ivanhoe proposal contradict the Liberia–Guinea Implementation Agreement
• Whether the Government of Liberia conducted a legal review before entering discussions with Ivanhoe
• How Liberia intends to safeguard its diplomatic commitments to Guinea
• Whether the Ivanhoe negotiations could expose the country to legal liabilities or diplomatic disputes

Members of the House insist that before any further engagement with Ivanhoe proceeds, the government must establish whether the proposal adheres to Liberia’s existing international commitments. The Minister of Justice’s appearance on December 2 is expected to provide substantial clarity on the future of Liberia’s cross-border infrastructure governance. Lawmakers emphasize that while Liberia welcomes investment, no commercial arrangement should undermine or contradict the state-to-state Implementation Agreement already ratified with Guinea. 

The Legislature maintains that full transparency, compliance, and national interest must guide all engagements regarding the rail and port corridor. The outcome of the upcoming hearing will play a decisive role in determining how Liberia proceeds with the Ivanhoe corridor proposal and ensures the protection of its diplomatic and legal obligations.