By Alpha Abu
Officials of the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (SLEITI) together with members of the Multi-Stakeholders Group (MSG) have deliberated in Freetown on a draft Natural Resources Transparency Bill that is geared towards transforming the extractives sector and making it more accountable to the people of this country.
The aim of the bill is to prepare a regime that will enhance disclosures from natural resources companies and revenue management institutions for the preparation of Reports by SLEITI.
The final draft bill if passed into law will let the public know about the contents of natural resources contracts negotiated by Companies and the Government of Sierra Leone.
Apart from access to contract agreements, the bill is also expected to surmount challenges in accessing receipt of payment and related data, as well as critical information from companies and the government.
The law will complement existing legislation aimed at institutionalising transparency and accountability practices in line with Sierra Leone’s Mid-Term National Development Plan 2019-2023.
SLEITI will be empowered to make regulations and generally speaking, enactment of the bill is expected to ensure sustainable exploitation of natural resources.
Participants at the event highlighted a number of issues such as equal representation on the MSG and that appointment of members is undertaken by constituent stakeholders without the approval of the President of Sierra Leone. It’s being suggested that the appointment of members to the MSG should be manifested by clarity and transparency
The Chairperson position of SLEITI /MSG is another issue that was debated by members as the present individual assigned to that position is the Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office but it’s being mooted that the holder of the post should be approved by members of MSG.
However, some members said ties with the Government should be maintained in achieving the institution’s mandate though it was acknowledged that EITI globally is expected to be independent.
SLEITI is yet to reach certain benchmarks to be certified by the global parent body with countries like Liberia having already achieved that since 2009 after passing the country’s EITI Act and discussions stressed autonomy which they agreed is critical in EITI programme implementation.
SLEITI’s bill is forward-looking to include forestry and fisheries with an emphasis on logging, sand mining, and marine life.
Daniel Gbondo Esq. who made a presentation on the findings from a review of the draft natural resources transparency bill cautioned against transforming into the Sierra Leone what obtains in other places like Liberia as it could be contextually unsuitable here.
The event which was held at Mamba Point Hotel in Freetown attracted representatives of partner group Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) in Ghana, whose lead in Policy, Petroleum and Conventional Energy, Kodzo Yaotse urged stronger collaboration among the various actors within SLEITI so they would be able to achieve their objectives.
SLEITI/MSG comprised officials from Ministries, departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations under the National Advocacy Coalition on Extractives (NACE), Mining Companies, and the Media.
The programme was moderated Theophilus Boadu Adoko-ACEP’s Minerals and Mining Policy Lead.
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