By Emma Black

The Sierra Leone Mining week & Exhibition 2025, held April 8-12 at the Freetown

International conference centre, united over 500 stakeholders, government officials, mining firms, investors, civil society, and community leaders to chart a sustainable future for the nation’s mining sector, under the theme sustainable mining, shared Benefits, Bringing Sierra Leone’s mineral wealth closer to its People, the event underscored mining’s economic might while confronting its social and environmental toll, pushing for reforms to ensure inclusive prosperity.

mining drives Sierra Leone’s economy, contributing 80% of export earnings and 15% of GDP in 2024, per Ministry of Mines data, alongside thousands of jobs, yet, communities near mines often see little gain, sparking heated discussions, we need roads, schools, hospitals not just promise, said Kono resident Fatmata Sesay, echoing sentiments at the conference, stakeholders demanded that companies prioritize local development, with visible impacts in infrastructure, health, and education.

Ibrahim Satti Kamara, National Minerals Agency (NMA) Director of Communications, addressed these concerns on True Tok Radio’s Wi Economy post-event. Royalties and taxes $120 million in 2024 fund national services like security and infrastructure, he said, responding to claims of unequal benefits, it’s not always cash in hand, but it supports everyone, critics, however, noted that only 3%

Of royalties reach mining districts, per 2024 NMA reports, fuelling calls for fairer distribution.

Gender inclusion emerged as a flashpoint. Esther Finda Kandeh, executive director of women on mining & Extractives, highlighted women’s plight in mining zones. polluted water and land hit women hardest they fetch water, feed families, she said, her group’s 2024 survey found women hold just 10% of mining jobs, despite bearing disproportionate impacts. Kandeh advocated for equal job access, training 200 women in Kono last year, a model she urged scaling.

Sustainability took center stage, with speakers stressing environmental protection and ethical practices. Illegal mining and lax oversight cost 5,000 hectares of forest in 2024, per environmental audits, threatening biodiversity. The NMA showcased reforms, like digital licensing portals, to boost transparency and attract $500 million in ethical investments by 2026, per agency goals.

Community voices resonated, we want a say in how mines operate, said Bombali chief Bai Koroma, whose district piloted a 2024 community fund, building two schools, such initiatives, backed by 100 attendees’ pledges, signal a shift toward inclusion, yet, challenges persist weak enforcement, with 30% of firms flouting environmental laws in 2024, and funding gaps limit local projects.

Public sentiment, captured on social media, demands action. mining wealth must lift us, not just companies, posted Freetown student Mohamed Bangura, gaining 2,000 likes. civil society, like the Sierra Leone Green Alliance, pushes for stricter audits, citing Ghana’s mining oversight as a model.