By Saio Marrah
Parliamentarians, who recently embarked on oversight visits to different mining companies across the country, have expressed their dissatisfaction over attempts by Marampa mining company to buy over Sierra Rutile Mines.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources, Saa Emerson Lamina explained to the House on Tuesday 26 March 2024, that they were aware of the Chief Executive Officer of the Marampa Mines wanting to take over Sierra Rutile.
Lamina later informed journalists that they were against any attempt by the Marampa mining company to buy over Sierra Rutile, which he described as a monopoly.
He said such a monopoly would lead to arrogance, dictatorship and a barrier to a free market with all the negative impacts.
Lamina went on to refer to a former popular businessman in Sierra Leone, Jamil Sahid Mohamed who, he said, monopolized cement factories, fisheries, low-cost housing estate and even mining, hence adversely affecting the economy and people of the country.
He also talked about how the issue of the Mining License Agreement (MLA) had been an “impediment” to a good number of mining companies which he said had made a good number of them not wanting to apply for the said license. This, he went on, had prevented the government from generating more revenue.
Lamina, who is from the diamond-rich Kono District, noted that their committee’s findings and recommendations would be out in two weeks, adding that they would be debating on it before taking the necessary action.
An MP from Bonthe District, Fatmata Bintu Bockarie, raised concerns at the failure of Marampa Mining Company officials to attend a meeting with parliamentarians during the oversight visit.
According to her, the committee did send a letter informing the company about the oversight visit and meeting, which the company acknowledged and promised to honour.
Ms. Bockarie said that it was on that assurance that the parliamentarians embarked on the said visit.
As a parliamentarian representing the Sierra Rutile community, she also expressed her dissatisfaction over the attempts by Marampa to either buy shares or the whole of Sierra Rutile.
Other MPs raised similar concerns regarding monopolization.
Acting Speaker of Parliament, Veronica Kadie Sesay also vehemently condemned the issue of monopoly pointing out that if an economy was to grow, businesses should be open for competition. She called on the concerned parliamentarians to raise a motion on the issue for debate or wait until the relevant minister was invited for questioning.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (28/03/24)
