May 24, 2021
Albert Baron Ansu
President Julius Maada Bio will today launch the minerals geodata report at the Bintumani conference hall and stakeholders of the sector are upbeat that it presages an economic boom for the country. This is an epoch making event and many Sierra Leoneans have lauded the effort of both the government and World Bank for initiating and driving the process that has attained a point of success story.
In a situation where hope had been dashed in the mine sector and notions of resources curse had been rife, the Sierra Leone Peoples Party on assuming power in 2018 prioritized the policy reconfiguration of mining and extractives. To this end in November 2018 the Geodata policy was developed and it covered a wide range to be consistent with international standard.
The question that many Sierra Leoneans will be asking is what is going to be different now that we have collected the data on the various mining entities that exist. This point is answered: “Government recognizes that availability of good-quality Geo-data is fundamental to building a comprehensive understanding of the wider potential of the mineral, oil and gas potential of the country, to attract future investment for the development of these resources, and to ensure good governance of these resources.”
An excerpt of the forward of the policy document written by Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh, the first Minister that set this process on course is a useful insight that can explain the essence of the policy overhaul.
He states: Though the economy of Sierra Leone has been dependent on the mineral sector for decades, there has never been a comprehensive policy to guide Government’s geo-data acquisition and management strategy. In many ways, Government relied on geological information provided by exploration companies which have not always been helpful to effective mineral development and country planning strategy of Government. By adopting this Geo-data Management Policy, Government expresses its strong commitment yet, to improved governance and management of the mineral sector.
The policy has been able to define the goal that the geodata survey can wrought in terms of benefit for Sierra Leoneans. It states: The goal of this Geo-data Management Policy is to set out a clear framework for the management of Geo-data and information on a national scale, to underpin the development and governance of Sierra Leone’s minerals, oil, and gas…
There are specific objectives to be achieved from the overarching goal set out and these include: Clarify types of Geo-data; Strengthen the Geo-data legislative framework;. Strengthen Geo-data management institutions; . Ensure improved Geo-data acquisition and analysis;. Clarify policy for the use, transfer and sale of Geo-data; Introduce modern Geo-data practices; Ensure security of Geo-data; Build regional and international partnerships;. Improve access to finance for Geo-data management and analysis;. Build Sierra Leonean Geo-data capacity and Build Sierra Leonean Geo-data awareness.
From these outlined scope of actions and structural development commitment areas, the importance of the document that is going to be exhibited today can be grasped and appreciated for its modernization trajectory of the mines sector.
In other words the information management systems that have been used in the mines sector have been outmoded and archaic and prone to compromise. This point is captured in the policy document when it is stated that:
“As an informational and investment concept, “Geo-data” is poorly understood outside the technical bodies operating in Sierra Leone. Geo-data is presently acquired, stored and analyzed by the NMA (particularly the Directorate of Geological Survey), the Petroleum Directorate, and companies operating in the minerals, oil and gas sectors . Currently, Geo-data in Sierra Leone comprises raw observational data, maps, photographs, samples, reports, licensing information and raw and processed data obtained by technical analysis of physical and chemical characteristics. Existing Geodata have been collected in the field, in the laboratory, and by remote sensing; metadata is rarely included in the country’s databases.”
With the upgrade of the mine sector based on predictable information that mutual benefits the country and potential investors, financial experts have already projected an economic boom in the coming months to augment domestic revenue thresholds and ensure investment in the much discussed human capital development to turn around the fortunes of all and sundry.