By: Aminata Sesay
The Member of Parliament for Moyamba District, Hon. Mustapha Sellu, has once again raised serious concerns over the operations of small-scale mining companies in his constituency, accusing them of violating the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act and endangering the lives and livelihoods of local communities.
Speaking passionately on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Hon. Sellu condemned the unchecked activities of these companies, particularly the risks posed by heavy-duty trucks transporting mining materials along narrow and poorly maintained village roads. He described a recent incident in which he narrowly avoided an accident while traveling through his constituency and encountering eight large trailers heading in the opposite direction.
“There are two or three small-scale mining companies in my constituency. They are in clear violation of the EPA Act that we enacted in this House,” he stated. “The Act mandates that no harm should come to host communities, yet the dust pollution and heavy traffic are endangering people’s health and safety.”
He added that despite submitting commitments to the EPA and the National Minerals Agency (NMA), these companies have failed to implement basic environmental safeguards, including dust suppression measures.
“This is the third time I’m raising this issue in Parliament. It’s fraudulent and dangerous. The people are not happy, and I am here to represent them,” Hon. Sellu declared, calling for the implicated companies to be summoned by Parliament and potentially relocated from the affected communities.
Hon. Sellu also highlighted communication challenges with foreign operators, many of whom do not speak English and operate without interpreters an issue that further hampers transparency and accountability.
Responding to the concerns, Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Sidikie, acknowledged the seriousness of the matter and proposed a joint oversight investigation by the Committees on Environment and Finance.
“This issue is very serious. The Environment Committee must summon the EPA, relevant ministry officials, and the companies involved to report to this House,” he said.
The Speaker of Parliament expressed strong support for this directive, voicing frustration over the inaction of parliamentary committees despite repeated complaints from constituents. “If committees fail to act, I will intervene directly,” the Speaker warned, adding that legal action including arrest warrants—can be pursued against companies that fail to comply with national regulations.
A member of the Parliamentary Mining Committee, while expressing solidarity with Hon. Sellu, promised swift action. “Together, we are doing a good job, and I assure you this issue will be resolved before the one-month deadline set by the Speaker,” the member stated.
The Speaker concluded by instructing Hon. Sellu to return with an update in a month should no action be taken, urging committee chairs to fulfill their responsibilities without delay.
This renewed appeal underscores growing public and parliamentary pressure for more responsible, transparent, and community-conscious mining practices especially in rural areas bearing the brunt of environmental and safety violations.