By Abdul Malik Bangura
Kingho Mining Company Limited has on the 1st July 2021 paid a total of four hundred million Leones (400,000,000) to mining communities in Tonkolili District, Northern Province of Sierra Leone.
The move is in pursuance of the requirement for the grant of a Large-Scale Mining License and in relation to the company’s obligation prescribed in Section 34(a) of the Mines and Minerals Act 2009 for surface rent.
The event which took place at the Tonkolili District Council, in Magburaka Town, saw stakeholders from the three (3) iron ore mining chiefdoms of Dansogoia, Sambaia and Simiria converged to receive their monies from the company’s staff.
Madam Judith Kosseh, Director of Community Affairs, Kingho Investment Company Limited, during the event, said that the company is a community company and will always fulfill its obligations to the people of the operational communities.
She continued that such is what prompted the company to come and honour its financial obligations by paying the surface rent.
Whilst giving a breakdown of the sum, Director Judith said Simiria Chiefdom will receive the sum of one hundred million Leones (Le100, 000,000), Sambaia Chiefdom will receive another sum of one hundred million Leones (Le100, 000,000), whilst Dansogoia Chiefdom will receive sum of two hundred million Leones (Le 200,000,000) all to be shared in the following sequence: Landowners 50%, Paramount Chiefs 15%, District Council 15%, Chiefdom Administration 10% and Constituency Development Fund 10%.
Responding to the payment, Honourable Rose Marie Bangura of Constituency 055 covering Simiria and Dansogoia chiefdoms thanked the company for honouring their obligation. She called on the landowners to utilize the money properly and to also use the money for development projects that will further empower their communities. She said aside from the payment of the surface rent, the company should also look into other areas like skills training in their respective communities.
Whilst giving his vote of thanks on behalf of the people in the mining communities, Paramount Chief Alimamy Bockarie Yallan Koroma of Dansogoia Chiefdom said the payment of the surface rent shows that Kingho is sensitive to its obligations. He called on the company to do some minor local rehabilitation to the road leading from Magburaka to Bendugu Town in Sambaia Chiefdom.
The Paramount Chief then thanked the company and prayed that the relationship between the company and the people continue to grow.
