BY: PROBLYN J. ALPHA
The Spokesman Civil Society Consortium on natural Resources Governance and Management, Ibrahim A.S. Bockarie who also doubles as the Coordinator Community Mobilization Advocacy Network said that the work of Civil Society in Kono district over the years has drastically reduced illicit mining in the district.
Mr. Bockarie made the statement during a press Conference held at the office of Advocate for Social Justice and Development (ASJD) at Masingbi Road in Koidu City.
The Press Conference was to discuss and distribute a position paper written by the aforementioned Civil Society Consortium. Addressing Journalists present, the Director of Advocate for Social Justice and Development (ASJD) Arthur Kargbo who also doubles as the lead consortium member maintained that the Civil Society consortium on natural Resources Governance and Management which is a right based establishment appreciates the various strides of the Government of Sierra Leone in the extractive and local governance sector especially in both policy and practical steps in minimizing the illegal mining in the artisanal sector.
According to Arthur Kargbo the Country has moved forward since it became part of the Kimberley process certification scheme ( KPCS) and the Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in the last one decade in the mining Industry that has been around for over nine decades. He on behalf of the consortium encouraged the powers that be to do more.
The lead Consortium member noted that the consortium as a catalyst of pro- poor in the country coupled with its keen attention in the extractives and local governance sector has been involved in other public interest activism and therefore registered the consortium’s interest in helping the country to move the process forward by not only consolidating the gains on behalf of the people but also moving along with the people who he described as the primary custodians of the endowments.
Mr. Kargbo intimated the audience that since 2018 the Diamond Area Community Development Funds came under much scrutiny by the SLPP led government nothing that proceeds of the DACDF are one of the most successful sub national transfers that have not only given a face lift to the much devastated mining communities in the Country but have also restore the hopes and confidence of the local authorities.
Owing to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report, Mr. Kargbo pointed out that robust actions are still needed to improve the likelihood of mining communities for sustainable peace and Development and for that backdrop, and maintained that the Civil Society Consortium on natural Resources Governance and management is urging the SLPP led government to speedily expedite the following recommendation.
Payment of all backlogs of the Diamond Area Community Development Funds since 2020, to enact the new Mines and Minerals bill that is under review, to published the much talked about Geo data Survey report for public consumption, to enact the precious Minerals Trading bill , to speedily remit all backlogs for the local Councils across the country since 2021 which has crippled the functions of the said Local Councils, to devolve the Ministry of Mines and its agency to the Councils, hence relieving the deprivation of the ideal of the much more needed tax regimes to carry out felt need development in the affected communities.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned press conference was climaxed with questions and answers and the signing of the position paper by members that constitute the consortium.
