Bio on Usman Boie Kamara of Sierra Leone

Usman Boie Kamara,  born 2^nd January, 1949 in Freetown, Sierra Leone,  married with three children

Summary of Professional and Other Activities

• Starting as a Government Mining Engineer in Kenema in 1972, entire working life was spent in the mining sector of our country Sierra Leone and abroad. Between 1972 and 2009 worked in various capacities, moving up the ladder through the years to become in 2008, the Director of Mines, responsible for all mining, supervision and administrative activities in Sierra Leone.

• Seconded to National Diamond Mining Company (N.D.M.C) as General Manager, 1990 -1993; was responsible for the turnaround of the fortunes of the company producing in excess of 50,000 carats per annum and managing a workforce of 1,500 persons.

• Also at various intervals during the course of serving the mining sector in Sierra Leone, offered expertise in the field to mining sectors in other countries like Ghana as Mining Supervisor in the Akwatia Diamond Mine (1974-75); in the UK,  on  attachment to the B.P. Minerals Head Office in London and to M.D, Chattaway, a mine design firm in Lichfield (1984-85); in Botswana, as Mining Supervisor and Mining Planning Engineer at Jwaneng Diamond Mine, producing 7 Million carats per annum; in Zambia, at an underground mine producing 500,000 metric tons of copper per annum(1985-86); and in the Kingdom of Lesotho as mining consultant for the Commonwealth Secretariat to explore the possibility of low key mechanization in their diamond mines.

• One of the main architects of the establishment of the framework of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, a scheme set up for the certification of rough diamonds which had been traded to fund rebel wars in Africa, in particular Sierra Leone.  In addition to being the Focal Point for the Kimberley Process in Sierra Leone, he was also the Coordinator and Chairman for the West Africa Group of Countries of the Kimberley Process,  comprising  Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo.

• Outside the mining sector continues to play leadership role within the Muslim community in Sierra Leone. As Deputy Chairman of the Hajj Committee, instrumental in streamlining and regularizing the procedures and processes of taking pilgrims to and from the Hajj in Mecca, which until recently was fraught with numerous problems; succeeded in overcoming the delays in travelling and even failed trips.

• As an educationist who believes in the importance of education as an instrument for personal development, has over the years contributed in the education of youths at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Also as a philanthropist has always reached out to fellow Sierra Leoneans including those less endowed and the handicapped youths.

EDUCATION

1982 – 1983 – Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London

D.I.C – Diploma of Imperial College

M.Sc – Mineral Production Management

Dissertation: The Worldwide Transportation of Iron Ore

1969 – 1972 – Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London

B.Sc (Eng) Hons. – Mining Engineering

A.R.S.M –Associate of the Royal School of Mines

M.Sc – Rock Mechanics

D.I.C – Diploma of Imperial College

Dissertation: The Economics of Stope Stability

1961 – 1968 – The Prince of Wales Secondary School, Freetown, Sierra Leone

GCE A’ Levels: Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Physics.

GCE O’ Level: Additional Mathematics, Chemistry, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Latin, Mathematics and Physics

1956 – 1961 – Islamia Primary School and East End Municipal School

ACADEMIC AWARDS / HONOURS

• Awarded a National Scholarship for outstanding performance at A ‘Level to pursue Mining Engineering course in England, U.K.
• Head Boy of School in 1967/68 academic year as top scholar in Upper VI.
• Prefect of the school in 1967/68.

INDUSTRIAL TRAINING

1970 – Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Underground mine

1970 – Grangesberg, Sweden

Underground iron ore mine

1968 – Goblin B.V.C – Leatherhead, Surrey, United Kingdom

Electrical equipment manufacturer.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2008 – 2009               Ministry of Mineral Resources, Sierra Leone

Director of Mines

2000 – 2008               Ministry of Mineral Resources, Sierra Leone

Deputy Director of Mines

Principal Assistant to the Director of Mines.

1994 – 2000               Ministry of Mineral Resources, Sierra Leone

Assistant Director of Mines

Assisted the Director of Mines in all project study and Mineral Economics in Freetown.

1990 – 1993                National Diamond Mining Company Ltd, Sierra Leone

General Manager

Responsible for the overall control of the mines at Tongo and Yengema employing over 1500 people and producing over 50,000 carats per annum.

1989                           Commonwealth Secretariat, Kingdom of Lesotho

Mining Consultant

Explored the possibility of low- key mechanisation in the Diamond Mines.

1988 – 1990                Ministry of  Mineral Resources, Sierra Leone

Assistant Director of Mines (Kenema)

Responsible for all mining operations in the country outside Freetown.

1986 – 1988               National Diamond Mining Company Ltd, Sierra Leone

Assistant Planning Engineer (Yenegema)

Involved in the planning and design of the underground Kimberlite Mine at Koidu.

1985 – 1986                 Jwaneng Mine, Botswana

Mufulira Mine, Zambia

Mining Supervisor & Mine Planning Engineer

Jwaneng Mine, (Open cast mine producing 7 Million carats per annum and at the Mufulira Mine, Zambia (Underground Mine) producing 500,000 metric tonnes of copper per annum

1984 – 1985                  B.P. Minerals, Head Office, London, United Kingdom

Mine Planner

Attached to the B.P. Minerals Head Office in London and to a mine design firm, M.D. Chattaway in Lichfield, U.K.

1976 – 1982                  Ministry of Mineral Resources, Sierra Leone

Government Mining Engineer (Sefadu)

Responsible for the administration and supervision of the Alluvial Diamond Mining Schemes in the Kono District. Also responsible for the routine Inspection of the N.D.M.C. operations at Yengema.

1974 – 1975                Akwatia Diamond Mine, Ghana

Plant & Mining Supervisor

Responsible for the running of Pan Plants and Heavy Media Separation Plants and Mining.

1974 – 1975                 Ministry of Mines & Mineral Resources, Sierra Leone

Pupil Government Mining Engineer (Kenema)

Responsible for the administration and supervision of the Alluvial Diamond Mining Schemes in the Kenema District. Responsible for the routine inspection of N.D.M.C. operations at Tongo Fields.

PAPERS & CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MINING INDUSTRY

• “Mining Annual Review for Sierra Leone” – Mining Journal U.K.(2003 – 2007)
• “Sanctions, Smuggling and the Kimberley Process” – presented at D4D conference, Monrovia; Liberia (2006)
• “Mining Annual Review for Sierra Leone” – Mining Journal U.K. (2006)
• “Mining Annual Review for Sierra Leone” – Mining Journal U.K. (2005)
• “Mining Annual Review for Sierra Leone” – Mining Journal U.K. (2004)
• “Sierra Leone Ready for Business” – Mining Journal U.K. (2003)
• “Mining Annual Review for Sierra Leone” – Mining Journal U.K. (2003)
• “Some Aspects of Mining Operations at Mufulira Mine” –  Zambia (1986)
• “Low-key Mechanisation in the Diamond Mines in Lesotho” – ( 1986)
• “Jwaneng Mine Operations” –  (1985)
• “Modernisation in Swedish Mines” – (1982)
• “Leone Trial Mining” – presented to Institute of Mining and Metallurgy meeting, Yengema, Kono, Sierra Leone  (1976)
• “Akwatia Mine – A Brief Insight” – (1975)

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

Below are some of the conferences, seminars and workshops attended over the years:

2009	Kimberley Process (KP) Plenary – Swakopmund, Namibia ECOWAS Directive on Mining – Abuja, Nigeria International Association for Impact Assessment – Accra, Ghana WAMSSA Conference – Accra, Ghana
2008	Kimberley Process Plenary – New Delhi, India Inter Governmental Forum – Geneva, Switzerland
2007	Kimberley Process Intersession and Plenary – Brussels, Belgium
2006	Kimberley Process Plenary – Gaborone, Botswana Mining Indaba – Cape Town, South Africa D4D Conference – Monrovia, Liberia
2005	Kimberley Process Intersession and Plenary – Moscow, Russia Federation
2004	Mining Indaba – Cape Town, South Africa Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada – Toronto, Canada Kimberley Process Plenary – Gatineau, Canada
2003	Mining Indaba – Cape Town, South Africa
2002	Kimberley Process inaugural meeting – Interlaken, Switzerland Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada – Toronto, Canada
2001	Inaugural meeting of EITI – London, U.K Kimberley Process Working Group – Twickenham, U.K

MEMBERSHIP OF ORGANISATIONS

• Member of the Working Group of Diamond Experts of the Kimberley Process – Kimberley Process focal point for Sierra Leone; 2003 – 2009

• West African Coordinator & Chairman for the Working Group of Alluvial /Artisanal Producers of the Kimberley Process – Coordinator of West Africa Group, comprising Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo; 2005-2009

• Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Metals ,U.K – Fellow

• Sierra Leone Institute of Engineers – Fellow

• Nation League of Islam Organisation of Sierra Leone – Vice Chairman

• Sierra Leone Hajj Committee – Vice Chairman

• Old Princewaleans Association (OPA) – President 1999 – 2000

–1^st Vice President 1997 – 1999

–2^nd Vice President 1995 – 1997

• Heritage Foundation (Sierra Leone) – Advisor

• East End Lions FC Elders Committee – Deputy Chairman

• Eastern Paddle and Magazine Development Association – Advisor

• African Society – Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London – President 1971 (participated in fund raising drives for the University)

PERSONAL INTERESTS

Interested in reading, sports (especially soccer and tennis), Scrabble and music. Played Soccer and Table tennis for the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London teams.

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