By Audrey Raymonda John
The Honourable Paramount Chief Paul Ngaba Saquee the 5th of Tankoro Chiefdom in Kono District, Eastern Region of the Republic of Sierra Leone, recently played a pivotal role in mediating a dispute between Landowners/Property Owners and Koidu Mining Limited in Kono District.
The mediation meeting, held at the Fillie Faboa Memorial Hall in Tankoro Chiefdom, Koidu City, garnered significant attention from paramount chiefs, civil society organizations, local authorities, the media, and members of the public. In his opening statement, Paramount Chief Paul Ngaba Saquee the 5th highlighted the importance of the engagement, emphasizing the longstanding disputes between Marginalized Affected Property Owners (MAPO) and Koidu Limited.
Paramount Chief Saquee emphasized the need to engage with MAPO, who have been involved in this issue for several years. Despite a court ruling in favor of Koidu Limited last year, Chief Saquee opted for a constructive approach, withdrawing the matter from the court with MAPO’s permission to resolve the disputes internally for the progress of the Chiefdom.
He stated that after fruitful consultations with stakeholders, including Civil Society organizations, he was privileged to have a productive engagement with MAPO. The landowners committed to formally documenting their grievances, which they would present to him. Upon receiving their letter, Chief Saquee pledged to involve Koidu Limited and establish a resolution panel with other stakeholders to address the matter.
Chief Saquee reminded aggrieved landowners of the progress made in resettlement efforts, with almost all of the houses completed. He acknowledged that while not all affected individuals were discontented, addressing the concerns of those who were unhappy was crucial.
He urged both parties to present their grievances, expressing optimism about achieving total peace through peaceful dialogue. Chairman Tamba Prince Boima of MAPO commended Chief Saquee for his bold intervention, expressing willingness to resolve the impasse amicably.
Other stakeholders also contributed meaningfully to the peace dialogue between MAPO and Koidu Limited, underscoring the importance of collaboration for the benefit of the district.
