The105 page report of the committee, set up to investigate the activities that led to the disturbances last December at Koidu Holdings which led to the deaths of two people and several others wounded, says minerals do not belong to the people.
During the Jenkins Johnston’s Commission of Enquiry in both Koidu town and Freetown, 42 witnesses testified and 79 exhibits obtained to ascertain the cause of the disturbances and to generally look at the mining agreement.
The Commission’s chairman, Lawyer Jenkins Johnston when presenting the report yesterday to President Koroma at State House, said they realized that during their findings the issues they were dealing with were beyond Koidu Holdings Mining Company.
He explained to President Koroma that during their examination of the mining policy, they found out that even though mining had been going on in the country for the past 75 years “no document reflects the fact that minerals in general belong to the people of Sierra Leone”
He went on that, “it is the view of the commission that investors should realize that a reasonable partnership must be guaranteed and Sierra Leoneans should benefit from future mining activities as it is reflected in the report”.
Jenkins Johnston then advised that this report be treated seriously as previous reports from other commissions had been kept aside.
President Koroma noted that government was closely following the activities of the commission, stating that the report was timely as the government was now reviewing mining licenses.
The President also stressed that, “Sierra Leone is not having a fair share from mining proceeds and my government intends to carefully examine existing mining policies.”
He also assured members of the commission that government would certainly look at the recommendations as his administration was open and transparent.