Sierra Leone’s Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has delivered a forceful message calling for a fundamental rethink of the country’s mining sector, insisting that mineral wealth must translate into measurable national development and economic security.
Speaking at the opening of Mining Week 2026, Dr Jalloh said Sierra Leone can no longer treat mining as a routine export industry, stressing that the sector now sits at the centre of national strategy.
“Mining revenue is no longer simply an economic issue. It is a national development and security imperative,” he told delegates.
The Vice President placed strong emphasis on revenue integrity, warning that weak oversight continues to deprive resource-rich countries of significant earnings. He cited underreporting of production, inaccurate valuation of exports and transfer pricing practices as persistent challenges across the sector.
To address these gaps, he called for independent verification systems to monitor mineral grades, export volumes and pricing mechanisms, arguing that technology must become the backbone of modern mining governance.
“The answer is technology,” Dr Jalloh said, advocating for digital production tracking and stronger institutional capacity to ensure transparency from extraction to export.
He also outlined a policy direction that would see Sierra Leone pursue more innovative ways of capturing value from its mineral resources, including royalty-backed financing models and expanded state participation in mining ventures.
Under existing legislation, the Government already holds a 10 percent free-carried interest in large-scale operations, with scope for higher negotiated stakes.
Beyond revenue, the Vice President stressed sustainability and social impact, urging mining companies to move beyond symbolic corporate social responsibility projects.
He argued for structured development agreements that align mining operations with national priorities such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, women’s empowerment and youth development.
Dr Jalloh also highlighted the importance of reforming artisanal mining, which supports over 120,000 livelihoods, calling for formalisation, improved environmental safeguards and stronger protections against exploitative practices, including child labour.
Concluding his address, the Vice President framed the Government’s agenda as a shift from extraction-driven growth to transformation-led development.
“From extraction to transformation. From royalties to real value capture. From mining activity to national prosperity,” he said.
