BY: ABDUL MARTINS FODAY AMARA IN KENEMA
The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources has started payment of the Diamond Area Community Development Fund (DACDF) to Chiefdoms where diamond mining operates. The event which took place at the National Mineral Agency office, Maxwell Khobe Street, brought together paramount chiefs, government officials of the mineral sectors, civil society, and the Anti-Corruption Commission among others.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Umaru Napoleon Koroma said, DACDF is an initiative of the central government in Sierra Leone designed to strengthen citizen participation in decision-making about natural resource management. He continued that the payment of the fund was in fulfillment of the government's commitment to the mining sector. He said the fund is only intended to be given to districts and Chiefdoms that have diamonds and where diamond mining takes place.
Mr. Koroma assured his audience that, the money would be calculated and paid on time for the subsequent years and called on all to get their licenses.
The chairman of the event who doubles as the Provincial Secretary Bai M. Turay, commended all for the turnout. He added that DACDF was set up by the Government of Sierra Leone in the year 2001 to put some money into the fund for distribution among diamond mining Chiefdoms in the country.
Giving the purpose for the payment of Diamond Area Community Development Fund, the Deputy Secretary General in the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, Emmanuel M. Sandi said, the Community Development Fund operates to carry out community projects through small-scale community investment. He said the government gives the DACDF money to mining Chiefdoms so that the people in those Chiefdoms Could use it to carry out development projects in communities.
Ibrahim Satti Kamara, Director of Communications and Community Affairs underscored the new guidelines for the access and utilization of DACDF that, funds are distributed among district councils based on the number of artisanal diamond mining licenses.
Paramount Chief Alhaji Sandi Momoh Forwai of Dama Chiefdom, applauded NMA and encouraged his colleagues to use the sum reasonably. The presentation of cheques formed the climax of the event.
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