Promoting Just Mining in Sierra Leone

Promoting Just Mining in Sierra Leone

By Charles Lahai

Sierra Leone is endowed with mineral resources such as gold, diamonds, rutile, bauxite, zircon, manganese, platinum, etc. The mining of these mineral resources in Sierra Leone commenced way back in the 1930s. These natural endowments seem to be more of a curse than a blessing to the growth and development of the nation. But the question that continues to beg the minds of Sierra Leoneans is; what value are our mineral deposits adding to the general national development agenda? How are the lives of local people improving giving all the massive rock blasting for diamonds, for example? As a nation, it is incumbent on all of us to protect our natural environment and to ensure full compliance with widely acceptable standards

The National Forum for Human Rights (NFHR), a coalition of some forty-one human rights and development organizations across the country, has maintained interest in the issue of just mining and how it impacts on the country’s environment and economy. In June this year, a team of Human Rights and Development organizations led by NFHR conducted a research into the impact of mining in the Kono District. The exercise focused primarily on the activities of Koidu Holdings, a mining company operating in Kono. The research team comprised representatives of Green Scenery, Campaign for Just Mining, Caritas Makeni, Network Movement for Justice and Development, Kono District Students Union and NFHR as the lead organization. Other participating agencies included Global Rights, Partners for Justice and UNAMSIL who provided the technical training for the research purpose.

It is no stretch of the imagination to say that the diamonds obtained from the diamond fields of Kono District, in particular, were used to fuel the eleven years old war that destroyed every facet of the Sierra Leonean society. Noting therefore that the scars of the war are still with us – a huge number of amputees, burnt down houses, a traumatized nation, etc, NFHR remains committed to promoting and protecting the rights of Sierra Leoneans through advocacy and lobbying, research and documentation, monitoring and supervision and the administration of justice. In discharging this mandate, we are faced with all sorts of threats from government quarters.

NFHR continues to urge all and sundry to work towards the institutionalization of a code of good practice where mining companies and other cooperate bodies can be held accountable for any physical or material damages that their activities may cause on the lives of our people. It is clear that the creation of access to justice for the poor ‘Salon Man en Woman’ will help to shape our destiny. Ostensibly, it remains the responsibility of Government to ensure that every agreement that leads to such process must include the total participation and involvement of the community people; although it was not so in the case of Koidu Holdings.

In fact, when one recalls the words of Mary Robinson, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who described the Sierra Leone war as the “most barbaric and brutal in recent times”. This should urge us to be cautious in the things we do, how we do it, the way we do it and for whom we do it.

In recent times the need for the mining sector to play a pivotal role in the regeneration of the economy has become increasingly tremendous. As an institution, we reckon that there were every chances that the mining sector could attract big international mining companies that would provide the much needed capital outlay for the rebirth of the economy. It is a well known secret that in the 60s and 70s the mining sector, especially diamonds, provided about 45% of the nation’s GDP. This high expectation of the mining sector as depicted in the National Recovery Strategy Paper seems to be a pipe dream when one considers the challenges that confronts this sector and for which the political will to make things work for the better is conspicuously absent.

The issue of mining in Sierra Leone and its impacts on the livelihoods of people is quite eroding particularly into their assets be they social, economic, physical, and human. Consequently, it is only when mining impacts these for the good then, and only then, can we say that mining is just.

NFHR has always been interested in the issue of promoting and protecting human rights and believes that there is need to be involved with this issue in a strategic manner such that the mining communities could benefit from the proceeds of their own natural resources. A key issue for consideration of NFHR is the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan which ensures the actualization of many aspects that will improve the lives of the Sierra Leonean people. In many instances the non implementation of such plans has given rise to conflicts as in is the case between Koidu Holdings Limited and the Community Property Owners Association.

In the light of these unfortunate situations, what do we do collectively to ameliorate these ugly occurrences? How do we get our Government accountable for the things they do? How do we ensure that there is effective collaboration between the Government and the people they purport to serve? And intrinsically, how do we raise our concerns with these stakeholders in a way that we do not wake up one morning and see our beautiful country in shambles giving all the massive blasting and the oceanic picture we see in mining areas?

We believe that Sierra Leone can make it to higher heights if, and only if, we can locate ourselves in a position where we can put our nation first.

Long live Salon, Long live our resources and long live us all.

What NMJD has taught me

Many young people who have worked with the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) on internship are always clamouring to come back and rejoin the “NMJD family”. NMJD has played host to several interns from Universities and other institutions of higher learning from as far afield as Canada and the USA. The heart-warming welcome, the creativity and the ceaseless flow of new ideas and initiatives, the resourcefulness, energy and commitment shown by staff at all times and the wide range of powerful grassroots contacts across the country will make the stay of any intern at NMJD worthwhile. With their well-rounded staff that complement one another, work at NMJD is a natural process. Ishmeal Alfred Charles, a Peace and Conflict Studies student of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, shares his impressions at the end of his internship.

It has always been my dream to work, or at least associate, with the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD). I have been following their activities for quite a while, and was very much impressed by their courage and resilience in addressing issues that affect the ordinary man and woman. So joining this human rights seeking, advocacy and development-oriented organization as an intern was a dream come true. It was quick for me to realize that NMJD is all about empowerment and sustainable development. The “first commandment” at NMJD is that: whatever you say or do should have an option/preference for the poor”. This, perhaps, is the motivating factor to the success of the organization.

My stay with NMJD has broadened my knowledge on especially my area of studies and enriched me with a lot of new ideas that would positively impact my future career. One thing I was particularly impressed with is the diversity and effectiveness of the several networks and coalitions NMJD is working with. Our exposure to these networks and coalitions also helped to give us an insight into the activities and programmes of a wide range of organizations operating in the country. I have heard and read about many Non-Governmental Organizations that have made immense contributions to the development of the country such as Campaign for Good Governance, National Forum for Human Rights, Lawyers Center for Legal Aid, Methodist Church Sierra Leone, etc. My internship provided me the opportunity and privilege of not only working with these organizations, but also interacting and building relationships with their staff.

I therefore wish to thank the Board, Management and staff of NMJD for their love and support throughout my stay at NMJD. I want to sincerely confess that NMJD have helped me to start looking at life with different lenses.