By: Mohamed M. Sesay
Lawmakers of the Fifth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone, yesterday the 9th of August 2022, unanimously enacted the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2022.
The fundamental purpose of the Act is to repeal and replace the Mines and Mineral Act of 2009, and provide for the introduction of new and improved provisions for exploration, mines and Minerals development, sale, and export for the socio-economic benefits of the people of Sierra Leone, to provide for the facilitation of transparent and accountable management of the mineral sector by international best practices.
The Act also intends to cater for improved employment and employment practice in the mineral sector; to provide improved welfare for communities affected by exploration, mining, and related activities, to provide for more effective measures to reduce the harmful effects of exploration and mining activities on life, property, and the environment.
In an interview with the Minister of Mines and Minerals Resources, Timothy Kabba chiefly considered the enactment of the bill as a very historic moment for the mining sector, and Sierra Leone by extension. He added that the new Act is the second Mines and Minerals Act since Sierra Leone started mining activities notably in 1933 when the first diamond was found in Kono District.
The Minister of Mines and Minerals Resources also intimated that the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2022, has a colossal difference from other mining Acts. He furthered that the New Act would now address most if not, all of the lacunas within the Mining Sectors across Sierra Leone. He added that the Environmental and Social Governance aimed at bringing women to the center stage of mining activities, increased more revenue for the country, and improving the lives of people, who are affected in those mining areas, would now be addressed by the New Act.
He continued that the object of the new Act is to improve on good governance of the mining sector, ameliorate huge revenue generation, increase the participation of Sierra Leoneans in the mining sector, and also make sure that the mining sector becomes the center of development for Sierra Leone.
“There are very many good things that we have introduced for the mining sector. Mining is a very difficult practice altogether. It requires a lot of capital, high technology, time and money. What we intend to do is to formalize the sector since the sector contributes immensely to the economy of the country”, he assured.
In another interview with the Chairman of the Committee on Mines and Minerals Resources in Parliament, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina also disclosed that the enactment of the New Act depicts the fulfillment of profit for the nation. He considered the Act to be one of the most progressive mining laws since mining and mineral resources were discovered in 1930. Hon. Emerson Lamina also assured that the new mining law has tremendous benefits for the people of Sierra Leone. He added that People will start to benefit from their minerals as per section 7 of Act No.6 of the 1991 constitution.