By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay –
The Minister of Environment, Jiwoh E. Abdulai has on Tuesday 12th November 2024, officially launched the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project to enhance the formalization of mercury reduction in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Sierra Leone.
The project which is being spearheaded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with Conversation International, took place at the Family Kingdom in Aberdeen, was witnessed by key stakeholders, from Kenya, United States and Sierra Leone.
The initiative aims to transform Sierra Leone’s small-scale gold mining sector by formalizing its activities, enhancing environmental management practices while reducing the use of mercury during the gold production.
Through the adoption of more responsible mining method, the project seeks to mitigate environmental degradation, to minimize health risks, to improve livelihoods and to formalize the gold supply chain -all while contributing to both national and global environmental goals.
The main objective of the project was to reduce the use of mercury in the ASGM sector in Sierra Leone through a holistic, multi-sectorial integrated formalization approach and increasing access to finance leading to the adoption of sustainable mercury-free technologies and access to traceable gold supply chain.
In his welcome remarks, the Chief Director of EPA, Sheku Kanneh said it was an opportunity to partner with Conversation International in such a project for the overall protect of the environment.
The project, he added was approved by government of Sierra Leone in January 2023, to be implemented in Kailahun, Bo and Tonkolili Districts. “By the end of the project, it is our belief that we would have gathered enough information and data that will inform our next line of actions to be taken into these communities and other areas,” he stated.
On their part, Charity Nalyanya from Conservation International expressed their excitement to be part of the project, as she applauded the government of Sierra Leone for making it possible.
She assured the gathering of their commitment to complete the project, despite the challenges it poses. “Responsible mining will co-exist with human wellbeing and environmental convention,” she stated.
In her presentation, on the expectations and linkage with the Sierra Leone gold project, Laureen Cheruiyot said the Global Environment Facility is financial mechanism of the environmental multilateral agreement crated in 1991.
The Conversation International, she underscored became GEF implementing agency in 2013. And in relation to this project, they are providing oversight to EPA, and ensure fiduciary standards among others.
While launching the Gold Project, the Minister of Environment, said do artisanal mining plays a crucial role in enhancing the economy of Sierra Leone, but it must not be done at the detriment of the environment.
He said the project is very much important, as it eradicates the negative aspect of mining, trying to make it safe for the environment and the wellbeing of humans
The Minister went ahead to cite some of the communities being affected by such type of mining, adding that with the aforesaid project, it will not only make the mining viable but as well protect the environment.
“The project is close to my heart and that of the President. And our people in along these rivers, who are being affected by these activities, do rely on us to find a long-lasting solution”
The day’s long engagement involved lots of presentations with the key objective to foster collaborative effort by managing stakeholders’ expectations and building an understanding of their roles in the implementation phase.
