In a bid to enhance the implementation of local content laws, the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) on Thursday, October 02, 2025 signed a partnership implementation agreement with Sonoco SL Limited, at the Agency’s Conference Hall in Freetown.  

The Director General of the Agency, Fodeba Daboh, stated that under Section 58 of the SLLCA Act 2016, all operators and contractors are required to sign an annual agreement with the Agency to integrate Sierra Leonean citizens into their workforce as exemplified by this partnership agreement signed with Sonoco SL Limited.

He said that agreement represents a critical milestone in operationalizing and integrating Local Content within their company’s framework, particularly the manufacturing and service sector in country, noting that both the Agency and the Company have made tangible commitments to ensure it full implementation.

This signing ceremony is a testament of Sonoco’s commitment to embed inclusive, sustainable and legally compliment local content practices in their operations across workforce development, procurement and technology transfer and broader economic contribution.

“His Excellency the President Rtd Brig said “we must insist in the implementation of our local content laws in Sierra Leone” and this is what the Agency and Sierra Mineral Holdings Is here to compliment,” he added, noting that the specific purpose of this signing is to ensure that the Company integrate Sierra Leonean talents, businesses and institutions into the value chain in a meaningful and progressive manner.

He explained that the agreement provides a structured framework for planning, implementing, and reporting local content obligations, aligns the Company’s initiatives with national development priorities particularly job creation, enterprise development and knowledge transfer, adding that the agreement establishes a transparent compliance roadmap to ensure accountability and measurable outcomes under the Local Content Act.

He pointed out that this agreement will lead to increased employment and skills development opportunities for Sierra Leoneans, prioritizes procurement and supplier development that will foster the growth and competitiveness of Sierra Leonean suppliers, enabling them to access contracts and build capacity through direct participation in the supply chain.

He furthered that the Company has committed to investing in the technological competence of Sierra Leonean staff and local firms through technology transfer, adding that Sonoco has the capacity for Sierra Leoneans to be capacitated. “Looking through the approved Local Content Plan, Sonoco is committing to invest in building Sierra Leone competence through trainings, joint ventures and access to modern tools and processes,” he said.

He stated that the Agency will give routine technical support to Sonoco SL Limited to facilitate linkages with local institutions, TVET training institutions and universities to support their workforce as well as to monitor compliance and performance in line with national priorities.

He thanked them for their show of commitment in Maximizing Local Content in their company’s $50 million flour mill investment, activities and operations in Sierra Leone.

The Managing Director of Sonoco SL Ltd, Mark Pritchard on the other hand made commitments to give priorities to Sierra Leoneans and Sierra Leonean businesses in terms of job creation and procurement, noting that Sonoco will also ensure increased participation of citizens in unskilled, semiskilled, skilled and management roles across all operations.

He said that both parties have made joint commitments, adding that they see this progressing in the future not just about compliance, but about collaboration and partnership.

He said that they are investing more $50 million in flour mill in country. He disclosed his love to helping Africans achieve its potentials.

He stated that while the company currently employs about 70 people, this number is expected to grow to around 350 when operations begin next year. He is optimistic that the next managing director could be a Sierra Leonean and highlighted the strong representation of Sierra Leoneans and women in leadership roles. Emphasizing their commitment to technology transfer, he pledged full support to the Agency for implementing the agreement, describing it as a living document integral to the company’s operations.

The signing ceremony was concluded with the presentation of the Notice of Approval for the company’s Sierra Leonean Content Plan, along with the issuance of a Certificate of Authorization.

Freetown, August 12, 2025 – The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) held a meeting on Tuesday to continue with the discussion of the implementation of Phase II of the Opportunity Salone Project.

The purpose of the meeting was to familiarize with Mr. James S. Koroma, Founder and CEO of Business Services Company Ltd, who has joined the project team as key project partner to enhance data and delivery.

Like the Phase I, the Phase II also focuses on supporting entrepreneurs involved in the cassava flour and palm kernel oil value chains. The initiative which is funded by the European Union under the ILO’s Opportunity Salone Programme seeks to strengthen capacity, improve certification and quality control, and build consumer confidence in locally made products.

On behalf of the SLLCA and its Director General, the Chief of Operations Mr. Morlu Brewah welcomed the ILO team and Mr. James S. Koroma. He praised the ILO for their unwavering support to the agency, assuring them of continued collaboration and a healthy working relationship with him. He assured Mr. Koroma that the agency would work with him to achieve the sought out goal on behalf of the people of SL, particularly our local entrepreneurs. He emphasised that the gains to be made by the ILO and SLLCA would be data driven and evidence-based

Mr. Tonderai Manoto, the Chief Technical Advisor for the Opportunity Salone Project provided updates, noting that the project had undergone restructuring following the departure of its Communications Officer and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer.

He said that the new partner [Mr. Koroma] will update the database and hopes that the data will be useful to SLLCA and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), adding that Mr. Koroma will look at the available data to see how best it will be synchronised.

“Communications functions have now been subcontracted to a specialized firm,” he added. “Although there was a brief funding delay due in part, to additional funds being secured.”

He disclosed that the project has created about 1,000 jobs.

Mr. Koroma shared plans to review the project’s existing data and oversee its management. His team will conduct data collection in Bo, Port Loko, and other parts of the country, while also training field staff in effective data-gathering methods.

He disclosed that by September, initial progress reports are expected to be available, enabling other government agencies to better understand the project’s reach an impact.

The Director of Operations, Mohamed Sannoh emphasized that strong collaboration will be crucial to achieving project goals.

The Director of Skills, Mrs. Isata M. Fornah expressed confidence in the readiness of the team. Highlighting the success of Phase I, she stated that the agency looks forward to a smooth and impactful implementation of Phase II.

The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency on Tuesday, 29^th July 2025 held a strategic meeting with the Directorate of Policy, Planning and Research of the Ministry of Trade and Industry on the Review of the 2016, Local Content Act at the Agency’s conference room, 21 Steward Street, Freetown.

This comes as a result of the Ministry receiving request from the Director-General of the Agency to the parent Ministry to support in the review of the Agency’s Act. The Director, Policy Planning and Research of the Ministry, Mr. Francis M. Jabati said having perused the 2016 Act of the Agency, identified many areas to be reviewed as the writers of the Act at that time considered the current trend of events when it was written, and many things have changed, he said. Considering the current trend, he said there is need to review the Local Content 2016 Act; the Local Content Policy and develop the Local Content Regulations. He went further to say that the Agency should consider the funding source and the road map in the review of the act. He reiterated that as parent Ministry, they are ready to support the Agency in the review as this forms part of the Annual Work Plan of the Minister, referencing the current move of the Ministry in supporting the review of the Cooperative Act of 1977.

Responding, the Director-General, Fodeba Daboh appreciated the visit of the team from MTI and said this review has been planned since he assumed office in 2019, but the issue has been the funding source and reiterated the timeliness of this activity. He said the Agency has a broad mandate to transform the economy and reference the request the agency has made to development partners like GIZ and ILO but this has not been fruitful. Since the Agency has the mandate to regulate, these development partners might not be interested to support the review that would regulate their operations and he thus advised that the team should be careful in the quest to request support from development partners towards the review of the Act. DG Daboh assured Director Jabati that the LCA team will give this drive a priority and would identify focal persons that will lead in the process of reviewing the act.

Director, Policy Planning and Research of the Ministry of Trade and Industry recommended that a strategy would be design along the LCA team to source funding and advise that everyone needs to read the act and the policy thoroughly so as to understand the grey areas as stakeholders would also be informed during the review process so that the document would come out to reflect the expectations of the Government and the Sierra Leonean indigenes. He requested the Agency to bring this discussion in the pending leadership meeting of the Ministry that would be held on the 4^th August, 2025 at the Ministry’s conference hall, so that all other heads of MDAs supervise by the Ministry would be informed in order to plan the way forward in sourcing funds for the review process as the Minster himself wants to see the review of the LCA Act comes to reality.

Acting Points

1. DG appointing the focal people to lead the process
2. Formation of a WhatsApp group to include MTI Director- Policy Planning and Research team
3. Presentation of this discussion to the pending MTI Leadership meeting
4. Popularize this meeting on all social medial platforms

In a bid to operationalize the implementation of Local Content law, the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) and FG Gold Limited have on Friday, June 27th, 2025 signed a Local Content Plan Implementation Agreement, at the Agency’s Conference Hall in Freetown.

The signing ceremony was attended by senior management staff of SLLCA and FG Gold Ltd.

The Director General of SLLCA, Fodeba Daboh said that the signing of this agreement represents a critical step in operationalizing the Agency’s Act of 2016 within the mining and extractive sectors.

“This agreement formalizes FG Gold’s commitment to embed inclusive, sustainable, and legally compliant local content practices into its operations across workforce development, procurement, technology transfer and broader economic contributions,” DG Daboh said.

The Corporate Development and Investor Relations Director of FG Gold Ltd, Nicola Asgill said that they have a ‘Local First Approach to everything’ where priority is given to Sierra Leoneans and Sierra Leonean businesses in terms of job creation and procurement.

She said, “Although the project is still under construction and development, operations are set to begin next year. With support from the Local Content Agency, significant investment has been made in local content. Currently, 90% of FG Gold’s workforce are Sierra Leoneans, over 55% are from the project-affected communities (Zone 1), and more than 70% are former artisanal miners.”

The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency on Wednesday, 25^th June, 2025 commences formal engagement with Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs). According section 14, subsection 2(g) part of its mandate is to ensure the development of capabilities of local companies to the   implementation of interior décor in all Government institutions across the country. The objective of this move is to promote the use of our locally made furniture and fittings for their interior décor to showcase our cultural heritage and to boost the local economy.

This will also create business linkages and first consideration to Sierra Leonean companies bidding for procurement materials, products, and goods for Ministries Departments and Agencies so as to fully benefit from the supply chains and contribute to the development of the economy.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ibrahim Alpha Sesay said on Tuesday January 9^th, 2024 that local content is a driver of industrialization aimed at promoting the utilization of domestic resources as inputs along value chains thereby achieving the objectives of increasing average local content levels, capacity utilization, and manufactured exports.

He made this comment when delivering a keynote address at the Local Content Workshop organized by Sierra Rutile Limited (SRL) at the New Brookfields Hostel in Freetown. The workshop was well attended by the Director General of Sierra Leone Local Content Agency, including other Heads of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), staff of the Sierra Rutile Limited (SRL), local suppliers, contractors, and service providers.

He added that the mandate of the Sierra Leone Local content Agency is to promote Sierra Leonean content development by strengthening the domestic private sector and to promote a friendly investment climate that supports local supply chains and build a competitive workforce, adding that the 2016 Act is a legal regulatory mechanism in ensuring that local content provisions are implemented.

“Similarly, companies should understand it is their responsibility to give preference to qualified local businesses, especially those within the environment where the company is operating,” he said.

He said the Government will continue to encourage mining companies such as SRL to build the capacities of local businesses so they can deliver quality services and to operate fair and transparent procurement and employment policies which allow indigenous Sierra Leonean businesses and Sierra Leoneans to gain procurement contracts and employment.

He pointed out that Sierra Rutile should also be committed to regular engagement and communication with local suppliers to ensure they understand what SRL want and can easily navigate their contracting and procurement processes and be part of a transparent supply chain.

He encouraged all beneficiaries of this workshop to treat it with the seriousness that it deserves, noting that as local contractors, suppliers and service providers, such platforms do not only increase your knowledge and capacity in conducting business with multi-national companies, but also broaden your network and provide increased business linkages for you.

The Director General of Sierra Leone Local Content Agency, Mr. Fodeba Daboh said that Sierra Rutile Limited has been around forever and so much is expected of them when it comes to Local Content delivery. “And for them taking the lead in having this Local Content workshop, tells us their strong show of commitment, and we look forward to more other companies not only within the mining sector, but other productive sectors to emulate same. Rest assure the Agency is always ready to give its support where applicable,” DG Daboh added.

He encouraged the Local Suppliers to know that Local Content is about competitiveness, value addition and more. “Thus, we do not settle for substandard. Local Suppliers also have to understand their obligations when it comes to service delivery. In order to ensure there is utilization of Sierra Leone goods and services, preferential margins of 10% is given to domestic suppliers by virtue of Sierra Leone Local Content Agency Act of 2016,” he said.

He pointed out that another aspect he must not leave out is, the perception about Local Content which have been considered far too long as, ‘highly complex, rigid and defined as too harsh.’ “However, it may interest you to know the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency Act 2016 is materially less harsh than comparable regulation in a number of other African countries where Local Content is a high-profile public policy,” he disclosed. “I tell you ladies and gentlemen; we have been more of facilitators than regulators of the 2016 Act. Therefore, it can be argued that, the provisions on local content in the 2016 Act is positioned as an incentive in terms of the limited restrictions to market access for foreign suppliers, the realistic targets for hiring Sierra Leonean citizens and the achievable objectives for encouraging raw material inputs to manufactured products compared to other African countries.”

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency, today, October 26, 2024 embarked on a cleaning exercise at the Aberdeen-Lumley beach, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Freetown. This initiative aimed to enhance the beach’s appeal by ensuring a cleaner, more environmentally-friendly coastal area, fostering tourism, and promoting civic engagement in environmental preservation.

The beach cleaning event attracted community members, government representatives, and volunteers from various local organizations, reflecting a collective commitment to maintaining the country’s natural beauty. Volunteers worked together to clear litter, dispose of waste responsibly, and ensure the beach area is pristine and welcoming for both locals and tourists.

The involvement of the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency is crucial, as it highlighted the importance of local partnerships in achieving sustainable development. By supporting such initiatives, the Agency aims to increase environmental awareness, reinforce the nation’s commitment to sustainable tourism, and encourage active civic participation among Sierra Leoneans.

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs emphasized that maintaining a clean and safe beach environment is integral to promoting Sierra Leone’s image as a prime eco-tourism destination. They expressed gratitude to all volunteers and stakeholders for their efforts, stressing that continued partnerships and community involvement are key to preserving the country’s natural resources for future generations.

The Aberdeen-Lumley beach cleaning exercise not only succeeded in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the beach but also served as an educational platform, inspiring Sierra Leoneans to protect their environment and contribute to sustainable development.

The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) has on Friday April 12, 2024 paid a familiarization visit to the Sunbird Bioenergy Sierra Leone Limited (formerly Addax Bioenergy Sierra Leone Limited), at the Mabilafu, Mara Chiefdom in the Bombali District.   

In his welcome address, the Associate Finance Manager of the Sunbird Bioenergy Sierra Leone Limited, Patrick Tucker said that the visit of the Agency shows a very good recognition to their company, adding that they are pleased to work with the Agency.  

The Director General of SLLCA, Mr. Fodeba Daboh disclosed that the Agency’s visit is just a familiarization visit. “We are here to listen to your concerns and challenges with regards Local Content issues,” he said, noting that many time Multinational Companies take the work of the Agency as an institution that Police them.

He said that the Agency’s mandate cut across every sector, pointing out that that the Agency’s mandate is to create sufficient linkages between foreign Companies and the local businesses.

He disclosed that they want to localize Sierra Leone’s economy thereby making it as a local content economy. He said that they want to see Sierra Leonean employees in managerial positions.

He said they believe in localization and value chain development. He said that they do not settle for low standards.

He disclosed that the Agency is working on a Critical Skills Database where Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad can upload their skills and curriculum vitae, adding that Multinational companies will login to the Agency’s website and search for the relevant skills they need for their companies which will prevent Multinational companies from bringing experts in country to do the same job that a Sierra Leonean can do.

He commended Sunbird Bioenergy Limited for submitting their Local Content Plan, noting that the Company do not need to submit another Plan until after three years. “However, they need to enter into a partnership agreement with the Agency so that the Agency will monitor the implementation of their plan,” he said. 

DG Daboh told them about the Local Content Audit which is conducted once every year to ensure their compliance level.

He said that they regulate to ensure compliance to Local Content laws, noting that quiet recently, the Agency has approved the Local Content Plan for Sunbird Bioenergy Sierra Leone Limited.

He disclosed that local content is about job creation for Sierra Leoneans, noting that the President Julius Maada Bio has declared 500,000 jobs for Sierra Leoneans which the Agency will coordinate and facility the space so as to actualize what the President has said.

“So, we are here today to meet with this Company to see their facilities and staff,” he said, noting that the Agency will come again at any time this year to evaluate the compliance rate of Sunbird.