Freetown, 2nd November 2026– The Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) has been appointed Independent Administrator for the country’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) reporting process, marking a significant step toward strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of Sierra Leone’s mineral resources.
The appointment follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Audit Service Sierra Leone and the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI) in June 2026.
Under the new arrangement, ASSL will move beyond its previous role of certifying reporting templates submitted by mining companies, government institutions and chiefdom authorities. The institution will now be responsible for preparing EITI reports, analysing data from the extractive sector, identifying reporting gaps and inconsistencies, and making recommendations aimed at improving governance and oversight.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative is a global standard that promotes openness in the management of natural resources by encouraging the disclosure of company payments, government revenues, production figures and licensing information. The framework enables citizens to monitor how income generated from oil, gas and mineral resources contributes to national development.
Officials described ASSL’s new mandate as a landmark development, noting that the appointment is the first of its kind within the African Organisation of English-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E) sub-region.
The move comes at a time when governments across resource-rich countries are facing growing demands for greater transparency and accountability in the management of extractive revenues amid fluctuating commodity prices and increasing public expectations.
SLEITI officials expressed confidence in the partnership, citing the Audit Service’s institutional independence, technical expertise and longstanding experience in handling sensitive financial information.
Stakeholders believe the arrangement will improve the quality, reliability and credibility of Sierra Leone’s EITI reporting by aligning disclosures with internationally recognised transparency standards.
The partnership is also expected to strengthen collaboration among government agencies, mining companies, civil society organisations and development partners, while improving public access to information on the extractive sector.
Enhanced transparency and better-quality data could support informed public debate, deepen accountability and help ensure that revenues generated from Sierra Leone’s natural resources translate into sustainable benefits for citizens.
As mining continues to play a critical role in the country’s economy, the new reporting framework is expected to reinforce public confidence in the governance of the sector and contribute to more effective management of Sierra Leone’s natural resource wealth.
