Offers 190 scholarships to indigenes of its Primary Host Communities
232news –
After waiting for over 90 years, Sierra Leone Marampa and Maforki Chiefdoms have received their first Community Development Agreement (CDA) fund payment to the tune of Le 38 Billion Leones (Old Leone) equivalent to $1.7 million.
At a colourful ceremony on Saturday, 29th April 2023, witness by President Julius Maada Bio among others distinguished guests.
Through President Bio’s and the Management of Marampa Mines headed by the CEO Mr. Craig Deen leadership, Sierra Leoneans are now enjoying their long denied benefits.
Professor Sheikh Umar Kamara was very clear on this, noting that since the first soil containing iron ore was lifted from the soil, the people of Marampa and Marfoki have never received CDA payment.
Professor Kamara was speaking during the presentation ceremony at the Lunsar community field.
He thanked President Bio for making this possible and the management and leadership of Marampa Mines Limited as well.
President Julius Maada Bio while presenting the cheque, spoke of how delighted he was to be in Lunsar and to deliver what was on paper.
“The last time we had a fall out with the company, but we were able to come together for the good of the people, community and the country at large. Both of us, the company and I had promised to open the mines again,” President Bio said.
President Bio went on to say that revenue sharing with the company has been good and that government has been informed that Marampa Mines had paid land lease agreement, provide scholarships for students who are doing well.
“Thank you Marampa Mines and I am pleased that you have kept your own part. We are also happy about gender parity in the company,’ President Bio said.
He said that Marampa Mines is now aligning its own policy to the country’s policy more especially on the gender aspect.
The President noted that more mining companies are now in operation than before and that all could be attributed to the dynamic stewardship of his SLPP administration.
This he said is not politics, but doing what we are supposed to do for our people.
We have started cleaning the mining sector. And this is the more reason why this is happening, President Bio noted.
He told the people of both chiefdoms that the company is theirs and that they need to take good care of it.
“You don’t need to steal from the company. You now have funds to do plenty development activities, he told the huge gathering.
The Chief Executive Officer of Marampa Mines Limited, Craig Deen speaking earlier said the day is a history making day noting that the payment is the largest ever CDA payment by a mining company.
He said 38 billion Leones will go to the communities as direct payment noting that Marampa will do more.
“We don’t want this mines to close again and this can only happen when we get support from the people.
We have to mine in a sustainable manner so that any time we mine some amount will go towards community development”, he said.
The CEO said he has option to be anywhere in the world and that his Company Gerald Metals, have projects in Congo Brazzaville, Malawi, Eastern Europe and even in America but he is committed to the project in Sierra Leone and as a result spends a good amount of his time here.
“Our fiscal commitment is one thing and this is just our first payment from our full year of trading, we want to make history every year by paying more CDA to the Community”, he said.
He said there is more than 1.7 billion tonnes of iron ore and they see a time, with the partnership and support of the government and citizens, they could reach an output of up to 10 million tonnes annually.
This he said can only happens with cooperation and more investment.
Craig Deen said having Marampa Mines here means growth.
“We are here to do as much as we can to make a difference, in this community. Let me use this occasion to thank the employees and every other person who are making a difference.”
The Paramount Chief of Marampa Chiefdom PC Koblo Queen 11 in his statement said it is good to read history but also very good to make history.
He said both Marampa and Maforki Chiefdoms will never forget you President Julius Maada Bio for making this happen.
“We will return you as President come June 24th for the simple fact that you are making this happen in our Chiefdoms.
“This CDA payment will continue. You are the tok and do president and that is exactly what you have done today. You continue to promote the local content and that the CDA payment will enable us to create more jobs, PC Koblo Queen said.”
He said since the history of their chiefdom President Bio is the only president to visit their school and award scholarship to the best pupil. We thank you Mr. President, he said.
When Gerald Metals, the world’s largest independent metals brokers took over Marampa Mines, they pledged to be good corporate citizens, adhere to best practices across all their mining endeavours and to ensure the communities around the mine were the first to benefit from their operations. To that end, they have strived to employ locally and develop through CSR, businesses that complement the mine and support the communities around their operations.
Marampa Mines are currently in discussions with the GOSL to secure the rights to develop for the country and the regional mining sector, rail and port under a new company that if successful will be called Salone Rail and Port.
Marampa’s vision for expansion would be realized sooner with access to rail and port as it will ensure the company will be more competitive in the global iron ore space as rail and port will help reduce its cost of production.
With Rail and Port, the increased volume of production would be moved to ships for export more efficiently and in a more cost effective way.
Marampa sees an integrated solution as the best way to implement this vision.
Marampa is proposing to GOSL that through its parent company, Gerald Group, it leads the consortium to develop this asset for the people of the region and the country as a whole.
The expansion, increased production output alongside rail and port will contribute significantly to the country’s economy in terms on increased taxes and royalties to the state.
