Kamakwie Resolves Mining War

The Paramount Chief of Sella Limba Chiefdom, Kandeh Luseni III, has expressed satisfaction with the operations of AMR Gold in his chiefdom.   (Photo: PC Kandeh Luseni grateful to AMR Gold leadership)

PC Luseni was admonishing his subjects at the Kamakwie Court Barry, during which the National Minerals Agency-NMA declared that Wilkinson Hill Mining Company, a subsidiary of AMR Gold, has been granted a small scale mining license.

He said his chiefdom is endowed with natural resources but the indigenes will never benefit from their God-given mineral wealth if they are not law abiding, well focused and peaceful.

The Paramount Chief however raised serious concern about the bad press and warned landowners to change their negative attitudes for a healthy development.

He admonished the landowners to desist from oppressing innocent locals in his chiefdom as they are all equal in the eyes of the law.

According to PC Luseni, development is stalled in Sella Limba because of the unabated wickedness among indigenes that are against development.

He commended AMR Gold leadership for being supportive and appealed to them to continue their good work for sustainable development.

Making the official declaration at the Kamakwie Court Barry, Acting Regional Manager of the National Minerals Agency, Kai Lebbie, said: “I am pleased to inform the people of Sella Limba and Sando chiefdoms that the Wilkinson Hill Mining Company has been granted a small scale mining for an initial period of three years.”

According to him, the parent company-AMR Gold was granted exclusive exploration licenses in the Sella Limba and Sanda Loko Chiefdoms to carry out detailed exploration and evaluation for the discovery of multiple mineral commodities.

To engage in exploration is very expensive, Mr. Jai Lebbie, affirmed, noting that AMR Gold has expended millions of United States Dollars to undertake this activity.

Despite this huge expenditure, the NMA Regional Manager said the company has been able to provide employment for some Sierra Leoneans, adding that the company’s management will be happy to expand on their employment capacity because they have been granted a Small Scale Mining License.

He noted that the biggest social challenge posing threat to development is unemployment, and therefore urged the community stakeholders to embrace AMR Gold to do their work unhindered so that the youth will be gainfully employed.

Mr. Lebbie described AMR Gold as a law abiding and developmentally oriented company, adding that those who are obstructing the work of the company are lawless and are not law abiding citizens. He further appealed for peace and called on the people to support President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma’s agenda for development

The Admin and Finance Manager of AMR Gold, Mohamed Sultan Daffae, thanked and appreciated the Government through the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources for granting the Small Scale Mining License to Wilkinson Hill Mining Company.

He told his audience that AMR Gold is still an exploration company, which is why it’s subsidiary company-Wilkinson Hill, is lawfully going to work within AMR Gold exploration License areas.

He says out of an area of five hundred square Kilometres, the Small Scale Mining License only covers one square kilometre in Sella Limba Chiefdom, North-West of Sierra Leone to the East of Kathanta village.

Mr. Daffae disclosed that the community where the proposed mining is to take place is expected to benefit about two hundred million Leones every year for community development.

He highlighted that since 2011, the company has rehabilitated the Kamakwie Court Barry, Police Station, bridges and expanded the road linking Kathanta village to Kamakwie Town.

Mr. Daffae also said they have built well furnished schools in Kayigrana in Sella Limba Chiefdom and Laminaya in Sanda Loko Chiefdom.

He further revealed that AMR Gold has provided scholarships for tertiary students as well as supported the Congo Town youth organization in Freetown.

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