Complimenting Government Human Capital Development
…Leone Rock Opens Skills Training Centre
By Mohamed Konneh
The Leone Rock Metal Group on Friday 8th December 2023 opens one of the biggest skills training centre to train its workforce and people in the mining industry. This is the biggest ever training centre by a mining in Sierra Leone that is geared towards building the capacity of young people in the industry.
The skills centre is to also build the skills of young people within their operational areas and the country as a whole.
In his opening remarks the HR Manager of Leone Rock, Mohamed Daffae said the training centre will improved skills in the workplace and that the launching of the centre is align to government agenda of human capital development.
‘This is also align to government job creation and our model is phases not only to improve our employees but to also build the capacity of other Sierra Leoneans who want to go into the job market. This skills training also goes with a mentorship program as this is missing in most aspect,’ Mr. Daffae said.
He said the mentorship program couple with the training will improve the workplace, build knowledge that will be pass on to other generations yet unborn.
‘The skills will improve professionalism and our mentorship program will improve the workforce greatly. Leone Rock will be setting the stage for improvement in the workforce. This project is in phases, the first phase is to improve our work force and the second phase is to extend to people outside our workforce within the industry,’ he said.
The General Manager of Kingho Mining Company, Mr. Wan Ghou said skills’ training is the key to job improvement and that Leone Rock remains the biggest mining company in the country that had started building the capacity of its workforce.
This is key he said, adding that Leone Rock is constructing it treatment plant and thirty million plant is also on the verge to be constructed and this means, more skilled workers to be able to do the job.
Mr. Wan noted that the training centre will build trust and that in the future the skills training will capacitate more and more people within Leone Rock mining area and other part in the country.
The Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray in his Statement recalled his days in the mining sector when workers were brought in from different countries.
He said during those period drivers were brought from other country to work in Sierra Leone but this is something they kicked against.
‘On the other hand when skills are not available they will import them but with training of this nature the skills gap will be closed. Let me use this occasion to congratulate Leone Rock for the step taken in improving their workforce. "This is the right thing to do. You did not wait for government but you decided to do it,’ the Minister said.
Mr. Rahman Swaray said the mentorship program create a pipeline for opportunities while assuring the company of government commitment in creating the enabling environment and to continue to support the company in this drive.
‘This venture is to save jobs for Sierra Leone. We have also laid a cabinet paper in parliament that will increase fees for work permit as these are efforts to save jobs except the skills are not available,’ he assured.
The Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Umaru Napoleon Koroma thanked Leone Rock Metal Group for the initiative noting that what is happening here is a true commitment by government to revamp the mining sector.
"This has encouraged us as a Ministry and this is telling us that Leone Rock is here to stay. This is also a clear demonstration of the company's demonstration of sustainable development. We as a government will continue to support you because we want you to improve and continue to operate so that government will get more taxes. Today’s event is a history making event," he said.
The launching of the Leone Rock Metal Group skills training centre and mentorship program was climaxed by oath taking from the mentees who have now form part of the workforce.
