By: Problyn J. Alpha
Pan African Rare Metals Company Limited has paid a surface rent of two million Leones to the Sandor and Nimikoro chiefdoms in Kono District.
The payment, made through different cheques, was presented during a ceremony held at the Fillie Faboe Hall on New Sembehun Road, Tankoro Chiefdom, Koidu City. The Senior Mining Engineer at Pan African Rare Metals Company, Abu Woody, emphasized that the payment of surface rents is in accordance with the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2022, specifically Section 36 A to D, which outlines how the payments should be distributed. According to the law, 70% of the surface rent is allocated to landowners, 10% each goes to the host paramount chiefs, the host member of parliament, and the district council of the respective chiefdoms.
Engineer Woody explained that, out of the two million Leones in surface rent paid, 90% went to Sandor Chiefdom, while 10% went to Nimikoro Chiefdom, as Sandor hosts a larger portion of land where the company is expected to begin operations soon. He also mentioned that the landowners would receive 70% of the surface rent, while the paramount chiefs, the member of parliament, and the district council would each receive 10%.
Addressing concerns raised about the company’s extended stay in the chiefdoms without full operations, Engineer Woody explained that mining is a complex process with multiple stages. He pointed out that it involves a thorough examination of what to mine, identification of data, and partnering with serious and responsible stakeholders before actual mining operations begin. He assured that the company plans to start full operations in the near future.
Engineer Woody also apologized on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of Pan African Rare Metals Company, Fassally Tarawally, for not addressing some of the community’s concerns as highlighted by the member of parliament and other speakers. He assured that all concerns have been documented and would be submitted to his CEO for prompt action, particularly to facilitate the commencement of mining operations.
Receiving the surface rent payment, the beneficiary paramount chiefs, including the National Chairman of the Council of Paramount Chiefs, who also serves as the Paramount Chief of Sandor Chiefdom, PC Sheku Ahmed Tejan Fasuluku Sonsiama, and the Paramount Chief of Nimikoro Chiefdom, PC Aiah Delton Bona, expressed gratitude to Pan African Rare Metals Company for the payment.
PC Sonsiama acknowledged the significant impact of democracy in exposing the concerns of minorities, adding that, as a former member of the Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Industrial Relations, he had often disagreed with certain issues, but was always outvoted by his colleagues. He also condemned the cliché that Kono District is the “breadbasket” of Sierra Leone, stating that, although the district used to contribute significantly to the nation’s economy, it now contributes less than 10% to the GDP, particularly due to the decline of the agricultural sector and the dominance of mining.
He noted that while the government collects one million dollars annually from large-scale mineral license fees, none of it goes directly to the chiefdoms or paramount chiefs. He expressed concern over the reduction in the percentage of surface rent payments allocated to paramount chiefs, which had dropped from 20% to 15% in 2009 and is now at 10%. He also highlighted that the Diamond Area Community Development Fund (DACDF), which is supposed to be paid every six months, has not been paid for over three years.
PC Fasuluku Sonsiama added that the start of mining operations would address many social issues in the chiefdoms, as it would create employment opportunities and boost the local economy.
PC Bona expressed frustration over the company’s prolonged delay in starting operations and urged the company to relinquish its land in the chiefdom if it was not ready to operate, as there were other capable individuals willing to take over the land for mining purposes.
The Right Honourable Member of Parliament Emerson Lamina, who is also the leader of government business and chairman of the Mines Committee, delivered remarks emphasizing that the payment of surface rent is a legal obligation under the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2022. He thanked President Bio for making the Act more progressive, ensuring greater benefits for the affected parties. Hon. Lamina also spoke about the history of surface rent payments, recounting the efforts of past paramount chiefs like Gandi Njacare and DuDu Bona, who fought for fair compensation for land used in mining.
In her statement, the Regional Manager of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Kono, Hawanatu O. Kamara, emphasized the importance of accountability in the use of surface rent payments. She pointed out that the commission’s primary focus is on ensuring that the 10% allocated to members of parliament and district councils is used properly, as it is public money. She also discussed the importance of the Diamond Area Community Development Fund (DACDF) and assured the public that investigations would be conducted into any misuse of funds in the district.
Other speakers included representatives from the National Minerals Agency (NMA), the Office of National Security (ONS), the Deputy Chairperson of the Kono District Council, and various civil society organizations, all of whom highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in the use of surface rent payments.
The ceremony concluded with a call for continued collaboration between the mining companies, local communities, and government to ensure that mining operations bring lasting benefits to Kono District and Sierra Leone as a whole.
