By Mabinty M. Kamara
The recently appointed Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources (MMMR), Musa Timothy Kabba, has assured Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) of his commitment to the effective management of the country's natural resources.
He made the assurance during an engagement with members of the Natural Resources Governance and Economic Justice Network (NaRGEJ), a coalition of CSOs working on the sector in Sierra Leone.
The event held on Thursday 13th August, was the Minister’s first engagement with campaigners in the natural resource sector since he was appointed to the position last month.
The purpose of the meeting, according to Emmanuel Tommy Gbondo, Co-lead for NaRGEJ, was to familiarize the minister with NaRGEJ's operation and to discuss issues regarding the state of mineral resources governance in the country.
NaRGEJ consists of 18 CSOs and media organizations working to secure responsible, beneficial and accountable natural resources management using human rights approach. The network’s goal is to ensure that governance processes are observed in the management of the sector.
NaRGEJ’s thematic areas of interventions are Water Management; Fisheries and Marine Resources; Solid Mineral; Forests and Wild Life; Petroleum; Environment and Land.
Abu Brima, the Executive Director of the Network Movement For Justice and Development, who doubles as the head of NaRGEJ, explained that the network has over the years been working with the Ministry to improve on the management of the country's mineral resources. He noted that they have been closely following up on the ongoing review of the Mines and Minerals Act of 2009 and he informed the new Minister that they had submitted their inputs for consideration.
Mr Brima called on the new Minister to take into consideration their recommendations, noting that the content of the bill should take into account the provisions of the Sierra Leone Minerals Policy (and Action Plan) 2018 and the African Mining Vision.
“We want to thank you for given us this opportunity to lay these issues to the table. One thing I can say on behalf of the Natural Resource Governance and Economic Justice Network is that we are more than ready to work with you and to work with the Ministry and we are always available, that is why we have direct links so we have no protocols and so you can call on us anytime,” he said.
Minister Kabba, in response, spoke about the “significant role” that the Civil Society have to play in the governance of natural resources as representatives of the people, noting that President Julius Maada Bio made a pledge to the people of Sierra Leone through his campaign manifesto that his leadership would enhance effective and efficient management of the natural resources for the benefits of the people and the country.
The Minister said the “most important” thing lined up in the ministry’s activities is to have a functional legislation that would benefit the people of the country and potential investors.
“I think elitism in the mineral sector is the actual fuel for conflict and injustice in the extractive sector. So we have the opportunity now, Mr. Abu Brima and your network. Myself and the deputy minister, including the NMA [National Minerals Agency] are very passionate about making sure that the new Mines and Minerals law is fit for purpose and stands the test of time,” Kabba said.
He added: “The review process will factor views of representatives and individuals interested in the mining sector.”
Minister Kabba stressed on the need for processes and procedures to be respected in these effort, noting: “The Constitution of Sierra Leone puts the power of regulation, implementation of the Act on the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources to ensure the sector is accountable and transparent, therefore, any agency that is established from the Ministry of Mines should take a line from the policy manual of the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources."
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