12/12/2025
CMC leader
Hon. Musa Hassan Bility
Press statement
OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON TODAYS VOTES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Today, the House of Representatives voted on several major instruments, including the Total Energy Bill, the Oronto Deal, the HPX agreement, and the National Budget. I voted against the combined Total Energy and Oronto Bill and for the HPX Bill. It is necessary to state the reasons for my votes today, which were taken in good conscience and based on what I believe to be the best interest of the Liberian people.
I would have supported the Total Energy Bill if it had been brought separately. However, with no justification given and without logic, it was brought as an Omnibus Bill, bundled as part of a single vote with the Oronto Deal, which constrained me to vote against the combined instrument. This is a common strategy that lawmakers use to ensure the passage of less popular bills by combining them with more essential or widely supported legislation, such as the Total Energy Bill. One can safely assume that with the push back against the Oronto deal from so many, the proponents knew that it had a high possibility of being rejected if submitted as a stand-alone instrument. Although the Bill was ultimately passed by my colleagues in the House, I remain firmly opposed to the Oronto deal because it has no clear plan for exploration and Otranto’s business model is simply to acquire our asset and flip it for profit. If this type of deal was ever to be accepted, it should have been an opportunity reserved for Liberians, so that Liberians, not foreigners, can benefit from their own resources. Additionally, given Oronto’s past record in Liberia, I do not believe such a company should again be entrusted with our resources.
I also voted against the National Budget. At $1.2 billion, it remains a consumption budget and not a transformational one. It does not improve the lives of ordinary Liberians, nor does it reflect any serious innovation in how government intends to deliver services and grow the economy. I particularly disagree with the Government’s decision to consume the two hundred-million-dollar Arcelor Mittal signing bonus over twelve months instead of investing it in a sustainable sector, such as agriculture, where it would have created jobs, empowered Liberians, and continued to yield benefits for many years.
However, I voted in favor of the HPX deal because it is, in my view, in the strategic interest of Liberia. This agreement is not simply about extracting our minerals; it is also about using our land and rail corridor to create a competitive logistics hub. It enhances our ability to move goods and services within Liberia, opens access to our inland port, and gives us a real opportunity to serve landlocked neighbors such as Mali and others who can use Liberia as a transit route. This is the kind of infrastructure-based advantage that can help position our country as a regional gateway and directly translate into private sector and economic growth opportunities.
Hon Musa Hassan Bility
Representative, District 7, Nimba County
Fifty Fifth National Legislature, Republic of Liberia
