The National Investment Board (NIB) leadership, led by Executive Director Dr Edward Hinga Sandy and Deputy Executive Director Ms Fatima Mahawa Sandi, has advocated for increased investment in mineral value addition and beneficiation as a key strategy for industrial growth, job creation, and broader economic transformation in Sierra Leone.
The appeal was made during a high-level panel at Sierra Leone Mining Week 2026, which coincided with the 11th African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) Council of Ministers Meeting at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown.
Dr Sandy spoke as a panellist in a strategic session on mineral beneficiation and industrial development, outlining the country’s emerging potential in steel production, rutile processing, and other downstream minerals. He contended that Sierra Leone already possesses critical assets significant mineral endowments, a gradually supportive policy environment, and market opportunities that can attract credible investors into processing and manufacturing rather than raw material exports alone.
Dr Sandy drew parallels with agriculture, citing successful value-added palm oil processing as an example of how localised processing can boost incomes and stimulate industrial linkages, which could be replicated in the mining sector.
Ms Fatima Mahawa Sandi, who moderated the session, steered the conversation toward practical enablers and obstacles for prospective investors. Topics covered included energy constraints and infrastructure improvements, strengthening local content and supply chains, regional trade opportunities, and the use of blended finance to reduce risks in large-scale processing projects. She also emphasised the importance of better coordination among government institutions in creating a predictable, investor-friendly environment for downstream mineral investment.
The panel featured diverse perspectives from government, industry, and development finance, with contributions from Emmanuel Konjoh of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Sudheer Godabole of Odhav Multi Industries SL, Lima Suffian-Kargbo of Sierra Rutile Limited, and Jerry Ahadjie of the African Development Bank. Their discussions centred on practical steps for developing a competitive and sustainable mineral value chain that can provide long-term economic benefits to Sierra Leone.
The engagement was part of the conference program under the theme “Our Mineral Resources: Responsible Mining, Value Multiplication, and Shared Prosperity,” which reflected a collaborative effort by policymakers, private sector actors, and development partners to transform the country’s mineral resources into inclusive industrial development and shared prosperity.
