SLEITI Launches and Ends Dissemination of 2020-2021 Report
By Mohamed Konneh
The Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI) on Thursday 26th October 2023 launched and ended the dissemination and sensitisation of the SLEITI report 2020-2021.
The theme for the launch and dissemination is ‘Sustaining Gains in Community Participation in the Extractive sector reforms’.
In his opening remarks the chairperson of the occasion, Kinnie Lamin said reforms in the mining sector started way back in 2007, while highlighting the African mining vision 2009 and other piece of legislatures in that direction.
Mr. Lamin said the extractive industry act and other policies enacted in 2009 form part of reforms in the sector.
‘The reviewed mines and mineral act is also part of the reforms and that these reforms continue to generate debates on the sector. The diamond area development fund, surface rent, the CDF are part of measures and all of these gives directives as to how funds goes to communities,’ he said.
Mr. Lamin noted that the first EITI report also warranted the ACC to look into the sector that came with a systems review of the sector.
‘The dissemination and launch of the report marks another significant step towards participation and that the report can be of no use if community and stakeholders participation is nowhere. The report is available and it is here to guide and inform citizens, Mr. Lamin said.
In his presentation the National Coordinator, Mohamed Baimba Koroma gave an overview of the SLEITI process adding that country the multi stakeholders group comprising civil society, government officials, mining companies form part of the process.
He said the Sierra Leone implementation is anchored in the office of the Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.
Highlighting the achievements Mr. Koroma noted that Sierra Leone was commended for aligning the EITI implementation with national priorities, while noting adding that the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) is supported by an effective national secretariat.
He said the EITI encourages implementing countries to make use of existing reporting systems for the EITI data collection and to make the results transparent at source.
On revenue allocation, he said once payments are lodged into the consolidated fund, they lose their identity.
‘On the contribution to communities the mining sector can bring significant economic benefits such as generating fiscal revenue and export earnings, contributing to building physical infrastructure, and driving economic gains. The growing mining sector increases employment,’ he said.
The National Coordinator said the large and small scale mining license shall enter into implement the CDA with primary host communities affected by its operations.
Mr. Kaiza Coker representing the Chamber of Mines in his statement said as members in the sector and the MSG their work is to support the EITI by cascading the EITI regulations to sister mining companies.
He said the MSG is a critical decision making space created while noting that the secretariat has help mining companies to put their books in order.
Mr. Coker noted that the secretariat is also helping mining companies and that mining companies are part of the accountability and transparent process.
Mr. Abu Brima speaking on behalf of civil society said civil society is the third layer in the MSG and that they have been contributing in their own little way to help the process.
Mr. Brima gave background to the EITI noting that countries with natural resources have no reason to be poor.
He quoted the former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair who once said that countries with natural resources should not be beggars.
He said this is the 17th year of the EITI and ask how far Sierra Leone has gone from that begging mentality.
‘What lessons have we learn from this report? This report gives us the volumes of what is produce and the value of the minerals. The report also give us the mining contribution to GDP backed by figures and statistics, Mr. Brima narrated.
He gave a quick analysis about Botswana and the benefit the country is deriving from its natural resources.
Mr. Brima noted that communities rich in natural resources remains poor and the country continues to beg for money.
‘We will recommend a review of the laws because these laws does not reflect the overall benefits we should get as a country. The report is also silence on the destruction of the land and also silence on the fishery sector, he said.
The Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, Emmanuel Sandy when making his statement said the EITI process strengthened the sector and that the ministry has also supported the process.
He said the ministry continue to provide vital information more especially on funds that goes to communities including chiefs, local councils and land owning families.
Launching the report Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation, Madam Francess Paigi Alghali said Sierra Leone has made significant progress when it comes to the EITI.
She said under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio the EITI has move ahead and that the report set standards.
‘We have made progress despite the many challenges but there is need to do more. The MSG can make changes as to what they want to see in the report. We have move from the 2019 standards and that the next validation will be hinges on the 2023 standards that takes into account anti-corruption issues, gender and energy transition. Our responsibility as government is to continue the reforms and take corrective measures as highlighted in the report.
The launch and distribution of the report climax the occasion.
