“We believe in honesty and not PhDs” … African Minerals’ Social Manager

African Minerals’ Social and Community Relations Manager, Colin Forbes has disclosed that the company believes in people that are honest, dedicated and trustworthy as part of their employment policy.  “We don’t believe in PhDs or much experience in our employment drive,” he said. Addressing the people of Port Loko Town on Monday 11^th October 2010 during their Public Disclosure meeting, Mr. Forbes reiterated the fact that the company has done a lot in terms of community development projects. He informed the gathering that AML is aware of the fact that most of the people in their areas of operation embark on farming activities, and as a result they thought it fit to compensate the affected farmers with a sum total of Le2.5 billion (two billion five hundred million Leones), in order to sustain their livelihood. He further reveals that the company in the development of the infrastructure has to use the sacred bushes for the railway. “We allocated the sum of Le400m (four hundred million Leones) as a compensation package for the people,” the Social and Community Relations Manager said.

On the ongoing infrastructure development, Mr. Forbes said the company’s initial plan was to construct a heavy haul road but they have now decided to construct a railway that will connect Ferengbeya, Marampa, Pepel and Targrin where the world’s third largest port will be constructed for the shipment of Iron Ore from Sierra Leone to Europe, China and other countries. He appealed to the people to support the project and be God Fearing so that their contribution in economic development will be felt in society.

In his address, African Minerals’ Abdul Deen Sesay who spoke on behalf of the Corporate Manager, Mustapha Kamara, said the company will not relent in it’s corporate and social responsibility drive, and informed the meeting that some of their supports to the communities they are operating include: the construction of a health center at Magbontor Village costing $19, 000; constructed a bridge costing $43, 000; provided pure drinking water facilities costing about $41, 000 and recently bought tools that worth about Le13.6m for road construction at Samaya Bendugu. The above support, he said, is in addition to some 800 scholarships that worth about Le180m at Tonkolili District. “We did this during exploration. Be rest assured that more projects will come under the community development plan that will be put together in consultation with the people,” Mr. Sesay assured the people.

Councilor Ibrahim S. Bangura expressed happiness for the leadership role taken by African Minerals in ensuring best practices in the environment, and also for the company’s Le5m monthly support to the Bai Bureh Warriors Football Team. He encouraged the company not to forget skillful youths, especially those that are ready to work for the development of the project and the country as a whole. Currently, he said they are in desperate need of recreation facilities such as the grading of their football field.

The Youth Leader in Port Loko District, Abdul Ahmid Amara said even though minerals are precious resources, but the most resources are the youths, most of whom are ready take up the mantle of leadership in the near future. “We have the strength and zeal to destroy – as was manifested during the war – and also take part in development activities if given the opportunity,” says Mr. Amara who further promised that they are ready to work with African Minerals to develop Sierra Leone if only the company will help to employ most of them that have got various technical skills. “The youths are leaders of today and not tomorrow. We have qualified youths that should not be marginalized,” Mr. Amara appealed to the company.

Women’s representative Haja Sama lauded President Ernest Bai Koroma for being a good leader that gives investment opportunity like African Minerals, which is in Sierra Leone not only to do business but also to reduce poverty. She said women in Sierra Leone have been fighting for a thirty percent quota in politics and development process representation. “We the women in Sierra Leone will be very grateful if AML will provide us a thirty percent quota in their employment package. We are capable enough to do what men can don in the mining community,” she revealed.

The representative of the Minister of Minerals Resources and Political Affairs, Dauda Musa Bangura encouraged the people of Port Loko to embrace development, and recalled that when the President took up office one of his dreams is to turn things round in the economy. This, he said prompted the reviewing and formulation of the new Mines and Minerals Act and the Sierra Leone Environmental Protection Act of 2008. “I want to admonish the youths to go in for more skills training so that they meet the requirement for AML’s infrastructure development and mining process. We must encourage the company to develop our country,” the Minister’s rep said.

The meeting was chaired by Honourable Isatu Koroma of Port Loko District.

By Fadda Bakish

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