The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources in collaboration with the National Minerals Agency (NMA), has on Thursday, February 25, 2021, engaged the media practitioners, representatives of Civil Society Organisations on the status of the mineral sector in Sierra Leone, and case between the government of Sierra Leone and SL Mining which is pending at the International tribunal.
The Director General of NMA, Mr. Julius Dainel Mattai said that over the years, before he assumed his current position, the mining sector in this country had been in a chaotic state maintaining that there is indeed a lot to be done in order to sanitize it.
He pointed out that their work, as the regulatory agency, entails issuing of mining licenses to mining companies, engaging mining communities, working on the legislative framework relating to the sector, deal with artisanal mining issues, deal with human rights issues, resettlement issues, deal with environmental issues, and social protection issues including child labour.
He noted that, dealing with problematic issues could only be achieved if it is done holistically, disclosing that they are working with different stakeholders to see how best they could handle such issues.
The DG informed that they believe in generating accurate data relating to the mining sector which they share in order to make informed decisions, adding that in doing do they are very mindful of having the requisite material and human resources to best serve as the regulatory agency of the mining sector.
He said out of the US$313 million that was generated, the country only benefitted US$21M, after taxes and other charges were deducted, which he referred to as pittance.
He however, stated that places like Lunsar, Mokanji and other mining communities are still backward and there is nothing admirable to show.
He said that the way and manner in which license was granted to SL Mining Company on March 29, 2017, was indeed very fraudulent, as it was done only within two weeks after the company applied for it. “The company did not fulfill all the laid down requirements before they were granted license,” he said.
On the court case, he said that it was the company that took the Government of Sierra Leone for arbitration (court) in England. The Director General said contrary to what certain people are peddling that SL Mining Company has won the case against the Government of Sierra Leone, “the truth of the matter is that final ruling has not been given and the case has moved to another level”.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Timothy Kabba, said the role of Civil Society Organizations and the Media cannot be overemphasized as they are performing patriotic functions. He maintained the view that there is sometimes bad press about nothing being done by Government with regards the mining sector, adding such is the situation because the less people know about the sector the more they believe in untruths.
He said presently there is now a new dawn, and a new chapter in the mining sector of this country, stating that there is the need for all to be part of the ongoing revolution.
The Minister said because of lack of economic diversification there had been too much pressure on the mining sector or the extractive industry to provide the much need revenue for Government.
He intimated that the fight to change things that had gone wrong within the sector is one that must be a continuous one.
Timothy Kabba said when he was appointed as Minister by President Bio, he met some kind of arrangement which was called Mining Community Development Fund, but it was not properly utilized for the development of mining communities. “Few unscrupulous individuals misappropriated those funds for personal aggrandizement and majority of the community residents did not benefit,” he revealed, adding that his Ministry in collaboration with Parliamentary Oversight Committee, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and Local Councils decided to change the narrative and make it become tangible on the ground.
“We came up with the initiative where community residents are asked to submit needs based proposals which they want to see implemented, and we are currently working in line with it which has become successful as evident in the construction of bridges and other infrastructural development,” he pointed out.
The Minister said at the macro level, they are on the verge of reviewing the Mines and Mineral Act, stating that it would be done in such a way by including inputs from members of the public.
“The review process will be truly reflective of the people’s aspirations and interests,” he asserted
He reiterated that the revolution cannot be achieved by the Ministry or the NMA alone, but needs the active participation of Civil Society Organizations and the Media especially with regards to creating awareness about the importance of the country benefitting from its mineral resources.
By Desmond Tunde Coker
01/03/2021. ISSUE NO: 8011