The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency signs an agreement of compliance with the OBT shipping company and the Marampa Mines Limited on 22nd April, 2026 at the Agency’s conference hall. The purpose of this MoU is to ensure that these companies fully comply with the provisions as enshrined in section 40, subsection (1), where all operating companies are expected to submit their local Content plan implementation to the Agency in Sierra Leone.

The Director-General, said this agreement is a statutory requirement with a binding framework between the Agency and the two companies, the OBT Shipping Limited and the Marampa Mines Limited with clear roadmap for accountability, compliance and defined monitoring system. The agreement strengthens the local workforce employment with critical skills transfer and reduces the capacity gap of our locals, he said, noting local supplier’s participation in the procurement tendering process without compromise to quality and standards. Critical sectors like clearing and forwarding should not be dominated by foreigners, but must actively involve our locals in order to build local capacity and create wealth within the country as local content served as the pathway to economic development, he noted.

Responding, the General Manager of OBT, Isabel Maguire thanked everyone and said OBT has existed in Sierra Leone over 20 years to do the right thing and she assured the Agency that they are here to close the gap by embarking on critical skills transfer, leadership training and a long term framework of Sierra Leoneans to take lead in managing themselves. On the other hand, Madam Jasmin Robert- Energy and Cooperate Affair Manager for Marampa Mines, stated that they have always integrated Sierra Leoneans into the Mining workforce and have conducted trainings to ensure skills transfer and promised to continue their compliance to the Agency going forward.

Director-General Fodeba Daboh presented a certificate of authorization to the two companies legally binding their operations which will last till April, 2028. DG Daboh further reiterated overseas capacity training of our locals which will enable them to manage their own business. Also said there would be an annual audit to these companies to confirm the provisions enshrined in the agreement as the Agency will continuing to provide an oversight role that will enhance continued Partnership for sustainable economic development.

The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency in partnership with development stakeholders held quarter one (Q1) Consultative Forum meeting at the National Investment Board (NIB) on the 31^st March, 2026 at 10am.   The purpose of this meeting was to adopt the last minutes, discussed development agenda agreed by the various committees and chat the way forward on new action points. The meeting brought together various stakeholders, representatives of MDAs, Private sectors and the Executive Chairman of NIB amongst others to drive together the implementation of Local Content Policy that will foster economic empowerment and growth.

Dr. Hinga Sandy, the Executive Director- National Investment Board commented on his commitment to implement the local content policies saying that the work of LCA is intertwined with that of NIB. He went further to say that the registration of all local businesses now lies within NIB as there is now an online business registration portal where all local businesses can register their businesses according to the provisions of the LCA policies. The Mid Term National Development plan has a huge gap and it is expected to be closed by the local businesses, noting that NIB and LCA will monitor the Cooperate Social Responsibilities (CSP) by companies to develop the communities they are operating, he said. He ends on the note of integrating LCA policies in to MDAs, Private sectors and Professional bodies in Sierra Leone to enhance economic growth.

The Director-General, Fodeba Daboh commended the work of the NIB executive Director in working together to drive the local content economy, commenting on the Cooperate Social Responsibility that has not worked well for the locals and emphasized that companies need to do more in terms of local content, noting that the forum brings the stakeholders together to facilitate the space for local content compliance that will enhance national development. The meeting was adjourned to a date and venue that would be communicated later.