Aruna Turay, AYV News, May 21, 2025
The ongoing dispute between Koidu Holdings Limited (Octea Group) and its workers, which has mischievously drawn the name of Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, into disrespect, should not be seen as an individual fight but rather a national fight against the systemic exploitation of rights of Sierra Leoneans working for foreigners, especially within the mining sector.
The intervention of the first lady in the Koidu Holding versus its staff matter should serve as a step in addressing the decades of human rights abuses carried out by foreign employers like Koidu Holdings.
What crime did the workers of Koidu Holdings commit by making key demands, including formal recognition of their union, living allowances, a 30% salary increment, overtime compensation, the provision of incentives, access to safe drinking water and the freedom of financial choice, that would warrant Koidu Holdings Limited to lay off over 1,000 Sierra Leonean workers?
While most top-placed Sierra Leoneans were seemingly content with the suffering of the workers in the hands of Koidu Holdings, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio stood in solidarity with them during a peaceful protest on March 4, 2025, in Koidu City.
Dr. Bio’s presence at the protest reflected her deep commitment to workers’ rights and advocacy for fair treatment and dignity for all labourers across the country.
The questions should be: Was that a crime she committed? Was that not a just and national fight? Should she not be celebrated and perhaps decorated with a national award? If Koidu Holdings was treating its workers well, should there have been a need for Dr. Fatima Bio’s intervention?
For many right-thinking Sierra Leoneans, the focus should be shifted from individual to a national fight. Let us join our first lady to put an end to the inhumane treatment that most foreign and some national employers are letting our locals undergo, especially in the mines.
Last week, the Republic of Guinea’s military ruler ordered the withdrawal of 51 mining licences from rough mining companies. We did not see Guinean nationals rebelling against their leader’s decision. What we saw was them supporting and standing by his decision, and also celebrating him.
This is where the late President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah (of blessed memories) would ask, “Watin do we Salone manbaaaa!!? Why not stand by our first lady to fight some of these foreign roughs and restore the lost dignity in labour in our country?
Sierra Leone’s Mines and Mineral Development Act is one of the best mining laws in Africa, ensuring transparency and accountability in the sector and aligning with international best practices.
It ensures mining activities benefit the local communities, reduce environmental impact, and enhance the welfare of those affected.
Despite this, the country continues to be exploited by foreign companies, and now, seeing the first lady forcing Koidu Holdings to ensure its workers benefit from the resources in their own land, is nothing but a step in the right direction.
Let us use this opportunity to ensure that foreign investors stop coming into the country with promises of investment, only to end up unleashing punishment on our countrymen and women.
