AYV News, May 25, 2026
Sierra Leone officially closed Mining Week 2026 on Friday with renewed calls to transform the country’s raw mineral wealth into finished products and to ensure mining delivers shared prosperity.
Held under the theme “Our Mineral Resources: Responsible Mining, Value Multiplication and Shared Prosperity,” the week-long event convened government officials, ADPA delegates, foreign ministers, mining companies, students and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for responsible extraction, value addition and broader economic benefits.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh launched the National Critical Minerals Strategy during the opening ceremony and declared both Mining Week and the ADPA engagements open. He urged a shift “from extraction to transformation, from reliance on royalties to real value capture,” stressing that infrastructure developed by mining companies, particularly in energy and transport, should be made accessible to support national growth. “We are a rich country, a rich continent; it is time we become a prosperous one,” he said.
Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources Julius Daniel Mattai said the event is a platform to advance discussions on responsible mining and sustainable partnerships. “Sierra Leone is open for business, not capture,” he told delegates, calling for investors who support the country’s aspirations for beneficiation and sustainable development.
Deputy Minister Umaru N. Koroma said Mining Week has been “four days of learning, unlearning and relearning,” providing a moment for introspection on how to govern mineral resources for present and future generations. He reiterated calls for greater national participation in exploration, ownership of geological data, and development of bankable projects that add value before export. “Sierra Leone must add value to its minerals,” he said, appealing to partners and investors to support the country’s ambitions.
The Minister and other speakers noted progress in the sector while urging continued collective action. HadjiDabo, Director General of the National Minerals Agency, and Koidu Town Mayor Emerson Lamina also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to using mining as a driver of inclusive growth and long-term development.
The event featured expert panel discussions, stakeholder consultations and a community-focused programme including a performance by school pupils explaining the uses and benefits of critical minerals. Organisers said they expect tangible progress on beneficiation and industrial transformation to be reported at next year’s Mining Week.
Mining Week 2026 aligns with broader national priorities, including initiatives under the Government’s “Big Five Game Changers,” and follows discussions at the 11th Ordinary Meeting of the ADPA Council of Ministers aimed at moving Africa beyond raw material export toward value creation.
