Miro Forestry Company has clarified the circumstances surrounding the death of Sulaiman Bondoh Kamara, an employee assigned to its Boiler Section, following allegations circulated on social media.
The clarification was provided during a meeting held on 12 September 2026 at the company’s conference room in Freetown. The engagement brought together representatives of the deceased’s family, officials from the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security and senior Management of Miro Forestry Company.
The meeting followed reports circulated on Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media platforms alleging that Sulaiman Bondoh Kamara had been denied sick leave and later died on the company’s premises.
During the engagement, Miro Forestry Company’s Senior Human Resources Officer, Kadiatu Bah, presented employment and leave records relating to the deceased and explained the company’s procedures for administering annual and sick leave.
Kadiatu Bah said sick leave is processed through the company’s clinic, which issues the required medical documentation and recommendations, while annual leave is administered by the Human Resources Department.
According to records presented at the meeting, Sulaiman Bondoh Kamara had been granted days off and sick leave between 23 March and 13 April 2026. The company said he also sought medical attention outside its health facility during that period, although details of the medical condition were reportedly not disclosed to the company’s clinic.
Miro Forestry Company’s Safety Manager, identified as Mr Evans, also explained the occupational safety measures in place and the personal protective equipment provided to employees.
Mr Evans said workers assigned to the Boiler Section are supplied with specialized protective equipment, including leather aprons, gloves, goggles, earplugs and safety boots. Records presented during the engagement reportedly showed that Sulaiman Bondoh Kamara had received the required protective equipment.
Management explained that Sulaiman Bondoh Kamara and another employee had been assigned to feed Boiler 5, which the company described as a relatively small boiler. They reportedly began work at approximately 6:00 a.m. on the day of the incident.
According to the company, Sulaiman Bondoh Kamara did not report any health concerns before the incident occurred at approximately 12:35 p.m.
The Acting Supervisor, Mohamed Sesay, reportedly observed Sulaiman Bondoh Kamara struggling to maintain his balance before he collapsed. Employees immediately responded and transported him to the company’s on-site clinic, where medical personnel assessed his condition.
Due to the seriousness of his condition, arrangements were made to transfer him to Community Health Foundation Hospital for further medical attention. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital, according to the account presented during the meeting.
Miro Forestry Company said it requested an autopsy to establish the medical cause of death, but the deceased’s family declined the request on cultural grounds and subsequently took custody of the body for burial.
Information presented during the engagement also suggested that Sulaiman Bondoh Kamara may have had an underlying health condition for which he had reportedly been receiving treatment outside the company.
Management stressed that, without an autopsy, the definitive medical cause of death could not be established. It therefore cautioned against drawing conclusions about the circumstances surrounding his death without medical evidence.
During the meeting, the deceased’s elder brother, Alimamy M. Sankoh, acknowledged that some statements circulated on social media had been made while the family was grieving and emotionally distressed. The family expressed regret and agreed to retract the allegations made against the company.
The family also appealed to Miro Forestry Company to consider employing another family member. Management expressed its willingness to consider the request, subject to the company’s recruitment procedures and the availability of a suitable position.
Miro Forestry Company further assured the family that all outstanding employment benefits due to Sulaiman Bondoh Kamara would be processed in accordance with applicable labour laws and the company’s conditions of service.
The meeting ended with an understanding among the parties to promote accurate information and address future concerns through constructive dialogue instead of relying on unverified reports circulated on social media.
