Mining companies pay over Le 30bn as community development fund

Business

Sierra Leone: The Community Affairs and Sustainable Development Manager at the National Mineral Agency ( NMA) Henry Kamara has revealed that four mining companies in Sierra Leone have contributed approximately over 30 billion Leones as community development fund to support the respective communities where they operate.

Mr Kamara made the above statement during an engagement with stakeholders from the mining communities under the program national resource rights and governance, organized by the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) in partnership with NMA.

He established that host of mining companies have the Community Development Agreement in their system, among which he named Sierra Rutile Limited, Sierra Minerals Holding Limited, Koidu Limited, Wongor Mining Cooperation, Sierra Diamond, China Kingho Mining Corporation and Dayu Mining Company. Whilst others are trying to get it sorted out, such agreements came into existence in 2017.

The four companies which had paid their community Development fund agreement with the stipulated period from 2018 to 2020, were Sierra Mineral holding Limited, Sierra Rutile Limited , Koidu Limited and Sierra Diamond Mining Limited.

Mr Kamara maintained that in 2018 close to Le10 billion was paid as community development fund, in 2019 slightly above Le 10 billion was paid and in 2020 above Le 10 billion again was paid by the mining companies. “By approximation, it is close to Le30 billion.” He added that systems are already in place where those funds are going with stakeholders and committee members in charge with such responsibility.

Despite such money being paid, community members within the mining operating areas are complaining of basic and social amenities.

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