By Fohad Mbaimba Kallay in Kono.
The Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Ambassador Tamba Lamina, has officially presented 4 Billion Leones old currency cheques as Diamond Area Community Development Funds (DACDF) to 11 Chiefdoms including both the city and the District Council respectively in Kono District.
The official handing over brought together traditional leaders from the beneficiary Chiefdoms, representatives from the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Resources, NMA, MP, Civil Society, both City and District Councils, and the media among others.
The Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs Ambassador Tamba Lamina stated that His Excellency Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio’s administration had pushed several policies and laws in Parliament to ensure that the citizens benefit from the natural resources across the country. He assured that President Bio is firmly Committed to remaining transparent and accountable to the proceeds from the minerals.
Minister Tamba Lamina pointed out that Diamond Area Community Development Funds is an annual payment of a percentage of artisanal licenses from each of the mining Chiefdoms which the central government sends back to the respective Chiefdoms for Developments.
" These payments were not paid for the previous three years because the government wanted a transparent and accountable structure for the people to benefit from it," he said.
He further stated that the government aims to change the narrative of mining in Kono District by ensuring that the local people benefit from the proceeds of the minerals. He urged the local authorities from the beneficiary Chiefdoms to deliciously utilize monies for their intended purposes for the Development of their various Chiefdoms.
The Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs Ambassador Tamba Lamina, assured that the government would monitor the implementation of the funds for tangible Developments.
The Director of Policy in the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Resources David John Cooper disclosed that the Ministry had developed its five-year strategic plan to ensure that the revenues generated from the mines go to the Communities for Development. He made it known to the Paramount Chiefs from the beneficiary Chiefdoms that the Community Area Community Development Funds payments cover three years including 2020,2021, and 2022 respectively. " The Ministry would monitor the implementation of the funds for their intended purposes" he stressed.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Mines and Minerals Resources, Honourable Saa Emerson Lamina, underscored the passion of His Excellency Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio to transform the mineral sector for the benefit of the country's citizens.
He pointed out that the billions of old currency had been paid as mining loyalties to the district across the country, particularly the Northern Region.
" Section 36 of the new Mines and Minerals Development Act gives 70% allocation of the surface rent payments go to the land owners", he said.
Honorable Saa Emerson Lamina called on the Paramount Chiefs to properly monitor the Artisanal Mining licenses in their various Chiefdoms.
However, the Regional Manager of the National Mineral Agency (NMA) in Kono District, Kai Lebbie revealed that the office in Kono has issued 700 artisanal Mining licenses in the district. He added that they would continue to work to implement government policies in the district for the betterment of the district and country.
Beneficiary Chiefdoms Paramount Chiefs expressed gratitude to the government for being fair to the Mining Chiefdoms. They said that the central government should make timely allocations of the DACDF to aid them in undertaking Development activities. They assured the proper utilization of the funds for its intended purposes.
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