By Saidu Kargbo
Freetown, 29th October 2025- The Environment Protection Agency of Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) has taken a decisive step toward reducing mercury use in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM), hosting a high-level workshop on October 28, 2025, that brought together key financial institutions and stakeholders to shape the future of responsible mining in the country.
The workshop focused on promoting mercury-free technologies and building access to traceable gold supply chains. It aims to formalize the ASGM sector through integrated, multisectoral approaches, strengthen the capacity of miners, and improve access to finance through inclusive and responsible supply chains. The initiative also seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of mercury use and improve environmental management at all levels, national, regional, and local. A Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework is also being developed to track progress.
Representing the Deputy Minister of Finance I, Emmanuel T. Gbondo expressed deep appreciation to EPA-SL and urged financial institutions to design products that increase access to finance for ASGM operators. “With its provenance and great significance, we have researched how to coordinate our efforts toward sound economic and policy balance,” he said. “The financial system plays a crucial role in economic development, and today’s workshop is a meaningful step toward building the capacity of our institutions to support economic talent and more.”
Deputy Bank Governor Alfred W.B. Sannoh praised EPA-SL and its partners for the initiative, noting its alignment with both the National Development Plan (2019–2020) and the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (2022–2026). He emphasized the socioeconomic importance of the ASGM sector in Sierra Leone. “This gathering marks a crucial moment in our collective efforts to build sustainable linkages between the financial sector and the ASGM industry, while advancing national goals for financial inclusion, environmental protection, and responsible resource mobilization,” he said.
Ms. Maisarrah Kallon, Assistant General for Small-scale Mining and Compliance at the National Minerals Agency, addressed the need to formalize the artisanal sector. “The sector is largely informal,” she said. “We’re working to ensure formalization, and the first step is a clear legal framework which has already been provided by the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources.”
The workshop marks a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s journey toward responsible mining, environmental stewardship, and economic empowerment for small-scale miners.
