By: Precious Miracle Kargbo (Intern)
Mining and extractive expert, Specialist Dauda Massaquoi has confirmed that the only way the environment of Sierra Leone can be managed, safe and healthy for everyone to live in, is to stop illegal mining.
Mr. Dauda Massaquoi made this statement during an interview at Epic radio on September 5th 2023, 16Wellington Street, Freetown.
In his opening statement Expert Massaquoi says “Illegal miners are visible throughout the country and they are the worst people in our environment, but this is why Sierra Leone have Joined Other Countries to tackle climate change and His Excellency President Maada Bio has joined other African leaders because it’s been too long that we have been crying about climate change and natural disasters like the mud-slide and that is why we are looking for ways to bring permanent solutions to these issues in our environment”.
specialist Dauda asserts that “the story which is out there, is like a curse as people claim, this is because God has blessed this country with a lot of natural resources for us to get rich and successful but what we should not forget is how we can take here of our environment whenever we take something out of it, we need to curtail irresponsible mining so that it will not affect the environment and also bring huge success for us as a country”.
Furthermore, specialist Dauda mentioned that Mining is something that will be able to change Sierra Leone as a country. He furthers that they have conducted their report since the tenure of former President Ernest Bia Koroma, Sierra Leone has benefited greatly through mining. “in fact there was a time because of mining, the country’s GDP increased and with the coming of His Excellency President Bio we have flocks of company that have registered the increase of mining companies in Sierra Leone and this was only done because we took some necessary steps to achieve “. Specialist Massaquoi intimated.
On balancing the government with illicit and illegal mining, government has engaged so many mining companies on their operations and registration process, as we look forward to curtail the habit of illegal mining. Mr. Dauda explained.
Specialist Massaquoi also reiterates “ we have apprehended and put into custody a lot of illegal miners who are from different nationalities and we are continuing to dialogue with a lot of partners including the government to allocate funds that will foresee the rehabilitations of the land, and there are a lot strategist like the National Miners Association (NMA) , Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other aligned ministries that are working together tirelessly to manage the environment”.
Specialist Dauda said all Miners in Sierra Leone have a document that speaks out rules and guidelines on how they are to operate in the land that is foreseen by the government and any one that is found wanting against these thresholds would be crackdown by the government for not following the due process.
In addendum, specialist Dauda Massaquoi closed by reminding the government on the urgent need to allocate funds that will be used to fight against climate change. “we need to increase the volume of sensitization because the community needs to know that their actions towards the environment can largely affect themselves and the community in which they reside, the reason for this illegal mining in the environment is because the volume has not been increased to educate them about the danger mining has to society and that is why we are working with the community closely now to ensure awareness and to protect the environment and Sierra Leone as a whole from illegal mining”. Specialist Dauda concluded.
