On Saturday, September 20, 2025, CTC Mining (SL) Limited formally commissioned a newly constructed and fully furnished 12-classroom block with a teachers’ office at Jeremiah School, Rogbereh Junction, Maforki Chiefdom, Port Loko District. Traditional leaders, political representatives, government agency officials, school staff, and community members attended the event, praising the company for fully implementing its Community Development Action Plan (CDAP) and delivering a project that directly addresses local needs.
In his welcome address, Paramount Chief Bai Forki Fianka II praised CTC Mining as the district’s most compliant company in terms of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and CDAP implementation. He emphasised the company’s consultative approach, pointing out that CTC does not impose projects on the community. “We tell them what we want, and they implement projects that benefit the community and people of Maforki Chiefdom,” PC Bai Forki Fianka II said, noting that the CTC’s development agenda is visible throughout the chiefdom.
He also praised the company for collaborating closely with local and ceremonial chiefs to identify and carry out priority interventions. He thanked management for transforming Jeremiah School into a modern learning facility outfitted with various school furniture. Hon. Abdul Latif Sesay, the APC Member of Parliament for the area, thanked CTC for prioritising local employment and rehabilitating the schools. He praised the company for upholding its local content commitments by creating jobs and business opportunities for the Maforki Chiefdom and the surrounding Port Loko district.
“CTC has fulfilled its promise to implement local content policy, creating livelihoods and contracting with local businesses,” the MP stated, emphasising the economic benefits of the infrastructure investment.
Dr Alpha Kanu, a presidential spokesman and veteran politician, praised CTC’s support for President Julius Maada Bio’s flagship Free Quality School Education initiative, describing it as an investment in human capital. Dr Kanu emphasised the importance of quality education for individual and national development, and he thanked CTC’s leadership, particularly CEO Hisham Mackie, for demonstrating vision and forthright leadership in promoting education in Maforki Chiefdom and Port Loko District.
Ambassador Dr Umaru Bond Wurie, Resident Minister for the Northwest, described CTC as a dependable, law-abiding partner who delivers on its promises. He thanked the company for fulfilling promises made to the people of Maforki Chiefdom and encouraged students to take advantage of the improved facilities. Minister Wurie also urged parents, particularly of girls, to fully utilise the government’s free education policy by ensuring regular school attendance. “President Julius Maada Bio is fully committed to the Free Quality School Education programme,” he stated, encouraging guardians to support their children’s education.
In his keynote and commissioning address, CTC Mining CEO Hisham Mackie expressed his pride and delight in seeing the Jeremiah School project come to fruition. He dedicated the new block to the children and people of Maforki Chiefdom, assuring them of CTC’s long-term commitment to the area. “CTC is here to stay in the Chiefdom and the Port Loko district,” Mr Mackie said, promising to continue doing everything he can to support local development. He announced a new scholarship scheme to assist girls who choose science subjects, as part of a targeted initiative to increase female STEM participation and strengthen human capital development in the chiefdom.
“Education is the backbone of sustainable development,” Mr Mackie said. “By investing in schools and learning materials, we are investing in the future leaders of Maforki Chiefdom and Sierra Leone as a whole.” He took the opportunity to thank President Julius Maada Bio for championing human capital development and to commend Mr Julius Maada Mattai, Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, for his leadership and unwavering support for the country’s mining sector.
The ceremony’s high point was the distribution of learning materials to Jeremiah School students, which served as a tangible complement to the upgraded physical infrastructure. Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Minerals Agency (NMA), the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education all attended and praised CTC for the school’s construction and furnishing, indicating that the project’s social impact has been recognised across institutions.
Mr Gibrilla Sidikie Kamara, Principal of Jeremiah Secondary School, thanked CTC management for the school’s rehabilitation and furnishing, and promised to maintain discipline and academic standards. He promised to run the new facilities “without fear or favour” and to ensure that they serve the broad interests of students. Earlier in the program, Dr David Koroma gave the opening statement on behalf of CTC Mining (SL) Limited, framing the commissioning as part of a larger collaboration between the company and the host communities.
CEO Hisham Mackie performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which formally handed over the school to Paramount Chief Bai Forki Fianka II via the Resident Minister for the Northwest Region, Ambassador Umaru Bond Wurie. Community leaders described the handover as the culmination of constructive dialogue under the CDAP, which prioritised local needs while leveraging company resources for long-term social investments.
For residents of Rogbereh Junction and the larger Maforki Chiefdom, the new 12-classroom building is more than just bricks and furniture. It demonstrates a collaborative effort between a private sector investor and local stakeholders, prioritising education, local employment, capacity building, and gender-inclusive programs. With promised science scholarships for girls, continued local hiring, and a company commitment to remaining involved in the district, stakeholders at the commissioning framed the project as a model of community-driven development and private sector accountability in Sierra Leone.
