By Sulaiman Jalloh
In a decisive act of community-driven representation, Hon. Paramount Chief Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III, Member of Parliament for Tonkolili District, formally presented a public petition to the Parliament of Sierra Leone on Thursday, urging lawmakers to uphold the collective will of the people in three chiefdoms in favor of a lease agreement with the Gento Group of Companies, a leading indigenous business enterprise.
The petition, tabled under Standing Orders 17 and 70(5)(a), is backed by tribal authorities and residents of Dansogoia, Sambaia, and Diang Chiefdoms, who unanimously support Gento’s involvement in the development of the Kasafoni Iron Ore Deposit. The chiefdoms argue that their decision, grounded in local consensus, should not be overridden by statutory regulations or bureaucratic procedures that exclude their voices.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members of Parliament, Hon. PC Jalloh declared,
I rise today as the Lead Petitioner and voice of my people to formally submit this petition duly signed by rightful landowners and stakeholders. It is rooted in their constitutional right to be heard and to shape decisions that impact their lands and future.”
The petition calls on Parliament to take three major actions, revoke Statutory Instrument No. 11 of 2024, which relates to the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDC) and its allocation of mineral assets, mandate a full investigation by the Public Petitions Committee into SLMMDC’s engagement with affected landowners;
Convene a special parliamentary hearing involving community members, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders regarding the Kasafoni mining project, Hon. Jalloh stressed that the petition is not a political manoeuvre, but rather a democratic appeal rooted in transparency, respect for traditional land rights, and local development priorities.
This is not an attack on any institution or individual,” he emphasized, it is a peaceful and lawful call for Parliament to act with fairness, wisdom, and urgency in protecting the voices of our people, the motion was seconded by Hon. Jawah Sesay, also representing Tonkolili District, further underscoring the united stance of the region’s elected representatives on the matter.
In response, Speaker of Parliament Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, who chairs the Public Petitions Committee, acknowledged the petition’s constitutional merit and confirmed that the committee will convene on Monday at 2:00 PM to begin deliberations.
We have received the petition and will treat it with the seriousness it deserves,” Speaker Thomas stated, the committee will meet promptly to engage with the issues and hear from all relevant parties.
This development marks a pivotal moment in Sierra Leone’s governance where grassroots voices, expressed through traditional and elected leadership, are asserting their right to participate in national resource governance. If the petition results in meaningful review and action, it could set a precedent for more inclusive decision-making in the country’s extractive sector.
As the debate unfolds in the coming days, all eyes will be on Parliament to see whether the will of the people in Tonkolili will be respected and whether indigenous companies like Gento Group will be empowered to lead in Sierra Leone’s development landscape.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday,7th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
