By Foday Moriba Conteh
In order to make the review of the Mines and Mineral Act of 2009 inclusive, the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, in collaboration with National Mineral Agency (NMA) has on Friday 27th March, 2020 concluded a ten day consultative meeting with stakeholders, traditional leaders, land owners as well as Pressmen. The review started in Makeni and proceeded to Kono, Kenema, Bo and ended up in Freetown respectively at the Hill Valley Hotel in Freetown.
In his address during the ceremony, the Director General of National Minerals Agency (NMA), Julius Daniel Mattai, disclosed that for the past years the country had not benefitted from the country’s mineral resources saying such is as a result of bad policies, noting that it is against such a backdrop that the Ministry of Mines and National Mineral Agency decided to review the current Mines and Mineral Act 2009 in order for the country to start benefiting from the wealth of its minerals.
He disclosed that the consultative meeting was geared towards having divergent opinions in relation to the new Act.
He noted that the National Minerals Agency, with support from partners, conducted a Nationwide Airborne Geophysical Survey geared towards providing the country with reliable geo-data, which it is anticipated will help determine the mineralization of Sierra Leone in the most comprehensive ways ever and put the country on sound footing to bargain from a position of strength with potential investors, and hence, optimize the benefits of exploration and exploitation of our mineral wealth. It was disclosed that with all those efforts made so far by the Ministry of Mines and NMA if only the policies are in place the country will benefit from the mining sector as well as create a win-win situation for the Government, land owners and investors.
In his statement the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Hon. Foday Rado Yokie, disclosed that he was a Member of Parliament when the new Mines and Mineral Act was enacted by Parliament furthering that they are aware that there are lapses in the Acts maintaining how they enacted it in a rush expressing hope that these new Acts would not be enacted by rush, adding that Sierra Leone has not benefit from the country’s minerals because of enacted bad laws.
He said when he took up his appointment as Minister of Mines he vowed to review all mining contracts and showed interest to review the current Mines and Mineral Acts in order to amend lapses.
The Minister said Sierra Leoneans have endured protracted suffering for too long maintaining that under his watch mining activities would be safeguarded and ultimately revamped to be very beneficial to the Government, land owners Investors etc. in a win win situation, adding that he needs to change that narrative by renegotiating a better deal for the people of Sierra Leone saying it is a sacred obligation owed to the people of Sierra Leone.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Mines and Mineral, Saa Emerson Lamina, disclosed that as Legislators they have the ultimate mandate to make laws, adding that after the entire consultative conference the amended Acts will be sent to Cabinet and from there it will be tabled in Parliament saying he is sure they can look at it and if it is in the interest of the people of Sierra Leone they will be ready to approve it in order for it to become law.
Chairman of Paramount Chiefs, PC Sheku Fasuluku III expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency (NMA) for reviewing the Mines and Mineral Act of 2009 underscoring how they believe that such could improve the mining sector in the country.
He called on the two institutions to work with the Ministry of Lands as they are working on two important land policies in order to enhance consistence, adding that as the Ministry is reviewing the Mines and Minerals Act it must be done in a way that it will be accepted by mining companies.
