By Alieu Amara Suwu
Playing a positive role in communities as their corporate social responsibility (CRS) by impacting communities, creating sustainable economic, social and environmental values, the Leone Rock Metal Group (LRMG) Company Limited, one of the largest mining companies in West Africa, largest in Sierra Leone and the parent company of Kingho Mining Company and Kingho Railway and Port Company,has handed over a newly built school worth over millions of Leones to Kakim Island (as the centre), which will provide learning environment for seven other islands within the Lokomsama and Kaffu Bullom chiefdoms in Port Loko District.
The handing over of the District Education Council (DEC) Primary School to the communities stakeholders was held on 26 November 2022, in Kakim Island.
Gilbert Zhao, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LRMG, established the fact that LRMG has worked tirelessly for the past two years to implement more than 50 community development projects stretching from education and skills training, health care, water and sanitation, women empowerment to improving roads in their primary host communities especially the islands. Gilbert revealed that the Company has spent over 1 billion Leones on various community developmental projects across the 13 Chiefdoms they operate in through their Community Development Action Plan(CDAP), and over 1.5 billion Leones through their CRS supports across the entire country that have impactedmany communities, government institutions and civil society groups. Gilbert waspleased to inform audience that the Company has also completed installation of 90 solar lights in eight islands between Pepel and Targrin. This, the CEO said it shows that Leone Rock does not impose development that the people do not want, but gives them what they value and what benefit them sustainably through respectful engagements; conceived with the main objective to build good relationship with their communities by giving back and also to support the government’s vision in driving the agenda to develop mining communities through education, good health and access to electricity.
Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President of Sierra Leone, thanked LRMG for what they have done, especially for boosting learning because it is exactly what the President has aspired for every Sierra Leonean child – that ‘Paopa’ all children must go to school. He advised them to make good use of the facilities created because they are a big privilege that even certain areas in Freetown do not haveand should take good care of the school, furniture and stationeries provided for they belong to them. After listening to the pleas of the chiefs and others of the islands, VP Juldeh recognised the derivation status of the Kakim Island; thus, vowed to tactically get them safe drinking water before the next fast month,give PIN codes to the teachers of the school; promised to talk to the Ministry of Health for a health centrein the Island and approvedrequest for micro credit of listed names of a support group named after him. He called for need for more employments of habitants in the Kakim Island.
Abass A.B.G Kamara, a pupil of DEC school gave a terrific and electrifying welcome statement that trilled the audience including the Vice President. He established, on behalf of fellow pupils, a profound gratitude to LRMG. Expressing concerns, he said for far too long, Kakim Island has been deprived of education- which has caused rampant teenage pregnancy – safe drinking water, solar electrification for better learning and as well medical facility. Despite that, he thanked LRMG for considering them and pleaded for more as he considered the Company as Moses, the redeemer.
Chief Pa Alie Kamara confirmed that since mining companies started mining activities in that locality, only LRMG has recognized them and lived to fulfilling their promises. However, Sulaiman Cole, Deputy Head Teacher of DEC school highlighted certain challenges which he pleaded for the government and the Company to magnanimously consider. Other speakers like Alpha Kanu, Resident Minister,who chaired the programme, made an applausive speech.
The programme ended with a display of different cultural activities, merriments and offers.
