The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) on Tuesday, June 30^th 2026 held its Second Quarter Consultative Forum meeting at the National Youth Commission (NAYCOM) Conference Hall, New England in Freetown.

The consultative meeting which brought together representatives from the ACC, NCPC-SL, Sierra Leone Institute of Engineers, TVET Council, National Youth Commission, Sierra Leone Insurance Commission Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, National Investment Board, Ministry of Justice, National Communication Authority, Ministry of Trade and Industry, NCTVE, SLUTech, SMEDA, MoDEP, Sierra Leone Standard Bureau, National Petroleum Directorate, UNDP, OBT Shipping Company, Sierra Leone Importers Association, and SLARI, among others, provides a platform   for information sharing and collaboration in the sectors covered by local content laws with respect to: upcoming projects in the sectors; information on available local capabilities; and other policy proposals that may be relevant to Sierra Leonean content development.  

Delivering a welcome address as the host institution, the Director of M&E at NAYCOM, Yusuf S. Kamara highlights the importance of this platform in providing job opportunity for the youths. He urged members of the forum to strengthen partnership in making sure that local content laws are fully implemented.

He encouraged members to meaningfully contribute towards the implementation of the local content laws.

In his address, the Director-General of SLLCA, Fodeba Daboh thanked NAYCOM for hosting the meeting, noting that the meeting is hosted rotationally. He explained that section 66 of the Agency’s Act 2016 established this consultative forum meeting with the aim of collaborating with relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the local content laws, noting that the Agency wants to ensure that members from the forum, embed local content implementation into their programs.

Discussing about matters arising, the Director General highlighted the issue of foreign companies employing foreigners in certain jobs that are meant for Sierra Leoneans. He said for instance that in their just concluded Local Content Audits, they discovered that some of the mining companies employed foreign staff as admin officers as if there is no qualified Sierra Leoneans to perform that function.

“We want to put Sierra Leoneans first when it comes to employment, and procurement, among others,” he said, adding that “members should strengthen local content laws and embed it into their operations”.

 He added that the work of the Agency cut-across every sector, assuring that they want to make sure that Sierra Leoneans take ownership of the economy, emphasizing that His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has always said the future of this country is in the hands of women and youths.

He called on all forum members to put Sierra Leoneans first, and encouraged them to remind their institutions to prioritize local content implementations.

Director General Daboh warmly welcomed the representative from the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and noted that the Agency relies on the Ministry to provide legal opinions whenever the need arises, particularly on matters relating to offences and penalties against companies that violate local content laws.

The Project Analyst of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Elizabeth Agatha Musah acknowledged that there are many problems on the implementation of the local content laws, but collaborative efforts will help to address these issues, noting that leaders should be intentional in the implementation. She called for advocacy. “We need the media to popularize this initiative,”

She disclosed that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by strengthening their capacity, improving market access, and promoting locally made products.

Responding, the representative from the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Edward Sarkoh, Esq., acknowledged the Agency’s concerns. He explained that many companies tend to engage directly with the Ministry, rather than the Agency, on matters relating to local content. He further emphasized that most investors typically approach senior officials within the Ministry instead of working through the Agency.

He encouraged all stakeholders to act in good faith and strengthen collaboration to ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of local content laws.

The Deputy Development Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), Usman C. Conteh suggested that the Director-General of the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) engage the Minister of Planning and Economic Development to explore the best ways to mobilize resources within and among local businesses and communities.

A presentation was delivered on the Local Content Consultative Forum Sub-Committee Work Plan, outlining the committee’s strategic priorities, planned activities, and implementation timeline.

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.

The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency on the 3^rd March, 2026 signs agreement of compliance with the CTC mining company and the first Sierra Leonean company, Roy Global limited to forester compliance on the full implementation of local content policies as enshrined in their local content plan at the agency’s conference hall.

In his opening statement, the Director-General, Mr. Fodeba Daboh stated that this ceremony is a statutory obligation as indicated in section 58 (1) of the local content Act 2016 to integrate local citizens in to the workforce. This signing represents a critical step in operationalizing the Local Content Act in the mining sector and that this agreement formalizes their commitments to enable inclusive and sustainable compliance to the Local Content provisions within their operations across key sectors such as workforce development, procurement, technology transfer and the broader economic contributions of our indigenes in Sierra Leone. He reiterated the fact that the agency wants to enhance a local content economy and this cannot be achieved if it fails to urge the companies to plug our locals into their operations.

The DG further reiterated that the purpose of this agreement is to ensure that the mining companies integrate Sierra Leonean talents, businesses and institutions into their value chains in a meaningful and progressive manner that would enhance national economic development. We are very intentional to ensure that mega contracts are not awarded to foreign vendors but our local vendors; qualified, trained and capacitated Sierra Leoneans should be giving first considerations when it comes to employment, capacity development, award of contracts and procurements, he said. This agreement also provides a structural framework for planning, implementing and reporting on our local content obligations and that it aligns with the company’s initiatives to national priorities, the agreement also will establish a monitoring and enforceable road map to promote transparency and measureable outcomes to the provisions of the local content Act. The importance of this agreement also stressed the need for workforce integration, increase employment and skills development opportunities and the gradual localization of technical, managerial roles within the mining operations of Sierra Leone. Procurement and supplier development fosters growth and competitiveness of Sierra Leoneans suppliers and local content is about our businesses and products, and that if Sierra Leoneans have the capacity to deliver on those areas, the mining companies must give them first consideration and not also forgetting to invest in technology competence of the locals as enshrine their local content plans. This agreement also contributes to broad base economic development through social investments, institutional supports and measureable local value chain creation and it’s a demonstration of mutual accountability and shared commitment to ensure that FDI results in to tangibles and lasting benefit for the people of Sierra Leone.

On the part of the CTC mining company, the Director of Corporate Affairs Dr. David Koroma, said they are committed to fulfilling all what they have included in to their local content plans and said 97% of employees of CTC mining company are Sierra Leoneans and this cut across from top management to unskilled workers and they will continue to do more. On the other hand, the first 100% local content company, Roy Global company limited engaged in drilling plastics in Sierra Leone, represented by the CEO, Mr. Roy Yusif Kargbo also made commitment to local content implementations and he called on the DG to foster the participation of more local businesses and local employment as they are the first Sierra Leonean company venturing into that with employment of 98% local indigenes in their operations giving more opportunities to Sierra Leoneans in  terms of skills transfer, capacity building, procurement opportunities to other Sierra Leoneans to foster economic development. He said their aim is to ensure 100% zero foreign national in to their operations and that the presence of foreign national is to ensure transfer of skills and trainings to our locals, referencing their Operations Manager of the company currently receiving international training that would add additional value to the operations of the company which has achieved international standards noting that they are even doing better than other international companies operating in the country.

In order to enhance the companies right to operate fully in the country as enshrined in the Act, the Director-General of the Agency, issued them a local content certificate of operations valid for three years and that they can now operate freely without fear, but encouraged them to submit their local content quarterly report to the agency as this will lead to upcoming monitoring of the company to confirm their provisions versus actual implementation of the local content in their operations.

Concluding, the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Mr. Daniel Fornah encouraged these companies to comply with the provisions of the Act and their local content plans and urged them to submit their local content quarterly report that will align with the provisions indicated in their local content plan submitted to the agency, noting that the agency shall have to confirm what they provided in their plans as against their quarterly reports.

In a bid to enhance the implementation of the Local Content laws, the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) on Tuesday, March 10^th. 2026 signed the Local Content Partnership Implementation Agreement with the Sierra Rutile Limited and LEOCEM, at the Agency’s conference hall in Freetown. 

The signing is part of the statutory requirement as stated in sec. 58(1) of the SLLCA Act 2016. The purpose of this agreement is to ensure that Sierra Rutile and LEOCEM integrate local content laws into their value chains. The Agency has now signed implementation agreement with five companies: CTC Mining (SL) Ltd, Hub Hotel, Roy Global (SL) Ltd. Sierra Rutile Limited, and LEOCEM.

In his opening statement, the Director General of SLLCA, Mr. Fodeba Daboh said that the signing is a critical step in operationalizing the shared visions and commitment. “This agreement formalizes their commitment to embed inclusive and sustainable local content practices into their operations especially when it comes to workforce, procurement, supply and market development, technology transfer, skills transfer and the broader economic contribution.”

DG Daboh commends Sierra Rutile, stating that their company is representing local content because it now Sierra Leonean owned. ”This agreement today, when fully implemented, will definitely ascertain the reality of whether Sierra Rutile is indeed a Sierra Leonean owned as per the Company’s Act,” he said

He said that this agreement provides a structural framework for both companies in terms of reporting on their local content obligations.

He pointed out that the agreement aligns the company’s local content initiatives with national priorities particularly in job creation, enterprise development, and knowledge transfer, among others.

He said this agreement establishes an enforceable road map that promote transparency, accountability, and measureable outcome, noting that it will lead to increase employment and skills development opportunities for the ordinary Sierra Leoneans. “…We strongly encourage Sierra Rutile Ltd and LEOCEM to deliver on this agreement,” he added.

In her statement, the External Affairs Manager of Sierra Leone Limited, Madam Hussinatu Yilla gives a brief background of their company and their operational areas, disclosing that their company is a “living proof” of local content because their company is 100 percent owned by a Sierra Leonean and 97 percent of their staff are Sierra Leoneans.

She disclosed that they are personate about local content and personate on empowering Sierra Leoneans.

Speaking on behalf of Mr. Srikanth Donpudi, the Senior Commercial Manager of LEOCEM, Mr. P.Mohan Siva Prasad, said LEOCEM has 90 percent of Sierra Leonean staff. He assured a full implementation of their local content obligation.  

The ceremony was climaxed with the presentation of Certificate of Authorization to the companies valid for three years to operate.  

Concluding, the Agency’s Data Analyst, Mr. Augustine Sesay urged them to submit their local content quarterly report, encouraging them to use the Agency’s website skills database to employ Sierra Leoneans to serve in senior management positions.