A coalition of civil society organisations has issued a nine-day ultimatum to Mackie Cement Company, accusing the company of widespread labour law violations, human rights abuses, tax evasion and environmental harm. In a strongly worded letter dated 2nd February 2026 and addressed to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Mackie, the National Consortium on Public Accountability (NCPA) alleged that documented reports, worker testimonies and field observations point to serious misconduct at the company’s operations in Freetown.The Consortium claims that workers are being subjected to unsafe and unhealthy conditions that expose them to injury and illness. It further alleges excessive working hours, inadequate rest periods and noncompliance with wage and overtime regulations. The letter also references reports of intimidation, harassment and retaliation against employees who attempt to raise concerns or assert their legal rights.Beyond labour-related issues, the NCPA accuses the cement company of engaging in environmentally harmful practices, including exposing workers to hazardous substances and degrading surrounding communities. The group says some workers have allegedly been “abandoned” without adequate protection or support.In addition, the Consortium alleges that Mackie Cement is “clandestinely conniving” with certain local companies to defraud the state through tax evasion, actions it says deprive the government of critical revenue.The NCPA maintains that if substantiated, the alleged practices would constitute breaches of national labour laws, environmental regulations, and international standards, including those set by the International Labour Organization.The civil society coalition has demanded that the company immediately cease any unlawful practices, commission an independent and transparent assessment of working conditions and environmental impact, compensate affected workers where necessary, and establish grievance mechanisms that protect employees from retaliation. It has also requested written confirmation of corrective measures within 15 to 30 days.Failure to act, the group warned, could result in escalation to regulatory authorities, Parliament, international oversight bodies and other stakeholders.Copies of the letter were sent to senior government officials, including the Minister of Labour and Social Security, the Minister of Finance, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Human Rights Commission, and Parliament.The Consortium also outlined planned action points, including engaging the media, mobilising state and non-state actors, and staging protests at the company’s workplace if its concerns are not addressed.As of press time, Ahmed Mackie is still to respond to a clarification message sent to him by this medium.