PONDER MY THOUGHTS
BY
Andrew Keili
(FEATURING THE MINING SECTOR)
It suddenly dawned on me at the recent Mining Week so ably organized by the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources that having women participate actively in mining is an idea whose time has come. Come to think of it, they now seem to be dominating the sector especially at the corporate level. I feel compelled to pay homage to these women and others who are also transforming the sector at the artisanal level. Also, last week, Daniel Gbondo, who has been front, and centre of transformative work in the mining sector over the past decade and half was laid to rest in Kono. I dedicate this special “Ponder” to the mining sector-an oft misunderstood sector.
A PILLAR OF MINING REFORM FALLS: MOURNING THE LOSS OF DANIEL GBONDO
Throughout much of his life’s journey, Daniel worked tirelessly alongside many of us to build a mining sector capable of making a meaningful contribution to Sierra Leone’s socio-economic development. His passing is a great loss to the sector, which he served with distinction. He was an exceptionally talented and versatile professional whose work spanned virtually every facet of the mining sector. His expertise covered environmental reclamation, mining policy, governance, community relations, and social performance. He served under the leadership of several Ministers. I was priviledged to deliver a tribute on behalf of the mining fraternity at his funeral vigil and I reproduce and adapt excerpts from this herein.
“As Coordinator of the Foundation for Environmental Security and Sustainability (FESS), he led initiatives in land reclamation, livelihood diversification, and agricultural development in Kono and Kenema. Later, as Environmental and Social Performance Expert in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Unit at the Office of the Chief of Staff, State House, he coordinated the work of an Expert Panel that undertook a comprehensive assessment of Sierra Leone’s mineral resource governance using the Natural Resource Charter (NRC) as its benchmark.
He subsequently served as Mineral Policy Adviser in the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, where he continued to contribute to policy reform and institutional strengthening. Until his passing, he was a Barrister and Solicitor and Head of the Mining Policy, Compliance and Community Relations Department at the law firm of Fornah-Sesay, Cummings, Showers & Co.
Daniel’s worked on mining initiatives supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). Among the many initiatives he contributed to were those related to the African Mining Vision (AMV), the Extractive Industries Technical Assistance Project (EITAP), the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI), and numerous other mining sector reform programmes.
He was deeply passionate about his home district of Kono. He frequently lamented the environmental degradation and economic hardship that decades of mining had left behind and devoted much of his career to seeking practical solutions. Daniel also had a deep compassion for Sierra Leone’s young people and even when he had every reason to be aggrieved with some on the odd occasion, his first instinct was always empathy. He looked beyond the immediate incident to the wider social realities confronting our nation.
The mining sector has lost a consummate professional—a versatile expert who willingly shared his knowledge with colleagues and stakeholders alike; an affable gentleman who related easily to everyone; and a man blessed with an infectious sense of humour.
The senior leadership of both the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency knew they could always rely on Daniel, often at very short notice, to chair a panel, facilitate a workshop, provide policy guidance, or lend his expertise to a difficult assignment.
May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in perfect peace. May the Risen Light of Christ shine upon him forever.”
FROM “SUICIDE S” TO CEOS: THE UNSTOPPABLE RISE OF WOMEN IN MINING
When I joined the National Diamond Mining Company (NDMC) several decades ago, it was unthinkable to see women in high-level technical, operational, or executive leadership roles in the mining sector. Back in the early 1980s at Sierra Rutile, the company slowly started recruiting women. However, they were mostly confined to secretarial services, the kitchen, the bar, or the laboratory as grain counters. This last job was ostensibly handed to them because of their “patience” in handling the tedious task of identifying and counting mineral grains under a microscope.
I have to tell you the story of “Suicide S,” our infamous secretary from that era. We gave her that nickname because she had a knack for accidentally erasing almost everything she typed on the company’s brand-new computers. I had the misfortune of giving her a lengthy report to type. Throughout the day, she constantly interrupted me in Mende, asking, “Gbehen lor?” (“What is this?”) while pointing at my handwriting. We finally finished the document after a whole day of interrogation. Just when I thought we were done, she screamed, “Lajilah, all tin loss!” To my absolute dismay, I realized she hadn’t saved the document once and had completely wiped it out.
Times have changed drastically since then. Today, the role of women in mining has transformed, and I am pleasantly surprised to see them leading the charge, especially at the executive level. During the recent Mining Week, a remarkable roll of honor stood out—women who are not just making their mark daily, but are actively pulling up other women behind them.
Among these industry pioneers is Aminata Kamara, a seasoned Mining Executive and HR Consultant who previously managed corporate operations for Sierra Rutile and was until recently VP Corporate Affairs for Marampa Mines. Hussine Yilla transitioned from her role as Deputy Country Manager at Marampa Mines to become the External Affairs Manager at Sierra Rutile Ltd. In the diamond sector, Sangeetha Bala serves as a top executive and HR professional for Meya Mining, while Catherine Finda Greenwood is driving community impact as Meya’s Community Affairs Manager in Kono. Furthermore, Wara Serry-Kamal is a Board member and Legal Counsel for Marampa Mines, alongside Jasmin Roberts, who is breaking ground as the Vice President Energy Solutions. In corporate development, Nicola Asgill is Head of Corporate development, Sustainability and Investor Relations for FG Gold.
At the technical level, women are also excelling in fields that were once strictly considered a male domain. This surge in female mining engineers is largely due to the Mining Engineering Department at Fourah Bay College (FBC), which consistently produces high-quality graduates. Today, these women work across mining operations, mineral processing, mine planning and other mining-related disciplines. The Ministry of Mines and the National Minerals Agency (NMA) have also employed a host of talented female engineers and geologists. I have had the privilege of mentoring some of them, including Hawanatu Thompson. She started her career at Cemmats, became the very first female Mine Manager in Sierra Leone whilst working at Sierra Rutile, and now continues to thrive as a manager back at Cemmats. Arduous jobs like plant operators and Heavy Equipment operators and mechanics that were once reserved for men now attract a considerable number of women, as are a good number of technician jobs.
We must also recognize the artisanal mining sector, where women are making incredible strides. I have worked closely with Esther Finda Kandeh, the President and Founder of Women in Mining and Extractives (WOME) in Sierra Leone. She is a fierce advocate for community rights, revenue transparency, and resource equity in mineral-rich districts like Kono. In the advocacy space, doyens like Cecilia Mattia head the National Advocacy Coalition on Extractives (NACE), keeping the industry accountable.
In Sierra Leone’s artisanal gold and diamond fields, women are moving beyond manual labour to become mine owners and site managers. Many hold licenses and financially bankroll operations themselves. While women make up about 30% of the artisanal workforce as washers, panners, and transporters, they also drive the local economy as cooks, food sellers, and consumer goods vendors.
Despite these victories, severe systemic challenges remain. Many women still struggle with unequal access to land, a lack of technical skills training, functional literacy barriers, and limited marketing or financial expertise. Fortunately, legislative reforms have begun to level the playing field. International frameworks like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), combined with Sierra Leone’s 2007 Gender Laws and the 2012 Sexual Offences Act, have provided crucial legal protections.
The gains made at a senior level in the large-scale mining sector have been driven by a combination of factors including a deliberate effort to encourage women empowerment by mining companies and the Mines Ministry and the exceptional drive and passion of several of the job holders.
The narrative has officially flipped. Move over, men—the women in mining have arrived, and they are here to stay!
Ponder my thoughts.