Kasafoni Land Saga…
GENTO GROUP DISMANTLES SLMMDC’S CLAIM
Gento Group of Companies (GGC), an indigenous Sierra Leonean company led by Mohamed Gento Kamara, has debunked a public notice issued by the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDC) in respect of the Tonkolili North Iron Ore Deposit in Kasafoni.
Kasafoni bears a vast stretch of a virgin land rich in iron ore deposit in Tonkolili North, Sierra Leone’s Northern Region. GGC says it has sufficient interest and involvement in this Kasafoni Concession based on transparent, and legally compliant engagements and processes in tandem with the Mines and Minerals Act of Parliament.
However, SLMMDC says the Kasafoni Concession is “lawfully and exclusively” allocated to it in accordance with the Sierra Leone Minerals and Mines Development and Management Regulations of 2024, to be developed and managed on behalf of the country.
The Corporation has further countered that it has never engaged, agreed, partnered, or has authorized dealings with GGC, nor any of its representative in respect of the Tonkolili North- Kasafoni Iron Ore Deposit.
In a Public Notice dated 5th June 2025, SLMMDC’s Legal Adviser, Caroline Alimatu Barbara Sesay (Ms.), has therefore, admonished all and sundry that, “…the Tonkolili North Iron Ore Deposit located at Sula Mountain, and encompassing the iron ore body at Kasafoni is under the exclusive and legal authority of the Corporation, which alone is empowered to determine, manage, and authorise any development or mining activities related to this asset.”
The Legal Adviser warns that the Kasafoni Iron Ore Deposit is not open to general licensing, or leasing concession without due engagement with the Corporation, asserting that all parties must engage directly with SLMMDC, which he refers to as the “sole statutory authority” legally empowered to make decisions, enter agreements, and authorise any development concerning the allocated asset.
However, GGC has described the SLMMDC Public Notice as misleading, and therefore, rejects and vehemently condemns its entire contents as “defamatory, scandalous, and calculated to damage the reputation of the Group, and mislead the public, investors, and government stakeholders.
GGC further spat at the Corporation’s Public Notice as “conflicting, contradicting, and inconsistent with the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Development Act 2022, Section 33 subsection (3)(a) in particular.
“Gento Group of Companies is 100% registered Sierra Leonean-owned company, has a legitimate lease agreement with the relevant tribal authorities, which, according to the Mines and Minerals Development Act, is a preliminary legal procedure to obtain a large-scale mining license,” maintains a press release dated June 5, 2025, and signed by the Group’s PRO, Alex Bolton.
The Group also says SLMMDC has never engaged with it for clarification of overlapping interests or disputes, but instead, chose to issue an “unfounded and injurious statement” calculated to debase the Group’s hard-earned reputation.
SLMMDC is reminded that no law infringes or tramples on citizens’ rights in Sierra Leone, further schooled that the “exclusive ownership” of land in the provinces is solely vested in the tribal authorities, who hold such land in trust for the landowners.
Meanwhile, GGC has demanded SLMMDC to retract its “defamatory” Public Notice, and to refrain from issuing any further statements that misrepresent the facts and undermine legitimate business actors that operate within the confines of the law, and the laid down rules and regulations in the country.
A formal letter to the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources from stakeholders of the Kasafoni host chiefdoms, namely, Sambaia, Dandongoia, and Diang, dated 5 June 2025, corroborates GGC’s claims.
The Paramount Chiefs of the three chiefdoms notify the Minister of a lease agreement they have signed with Gento Group of Companies in respect of the land situated in and around the Kasafoni area of Tonkolili North in the Republic of Sierra Leone for mining purposes.
“Mr Minister, we the custodians of the said land together with the landowners in our Chiefdoms have unanimously agreed and accepted the Gento Group of Companies to own the lease of the said land situated around the Kasafoni area. As you May be aware, that there are lots of disrespect and maltreatment from majority of the foreign companies coming into our country for mining, as in recent case in Kono District between the local people and the mining company which our people are always struggling to cope with,” the Paramount Chiefs state.
In an obvious stance to protect the interest of their subjects in the three chiefdoms, the Paramount Chiefs relay to the Minister that the women and youths in their chiefdoms have made it clear in a meeting that as landowners, their fundamental human rights to accept and support a company of their choice in the chiefdoms for mining operations must be preserved.
In the case of Kasafoni area, Tonkolili North mining concession, the Paramount Chiefs say they have unanimously agreed to lease their land to the Gento Group of Companies.
“Mr Minister, as our land lease agreement is now signed and sealed with the Gento Group, we are not going to encourage any other company, institution or entity to undertake any mining activity on the said land except with the permission and approval from the Gento Group,” the Paramount Chiefs vow, citing the Mines and Minerals Development Act which makes it clear that for anyone to obtain a large-scale mining license, they should first have a lease agreement with the land owners.
The Paramount Chiefs further inform the Minister that in a meeting held with the Gento Group, it assured of its willingness and commitment to partnering, or working with any other company, institution or entity that would want to undertake mining on the said land.
“On this note, we are kindly asking you to inform any company or entity interested in undertaking mining activities in the said land to contact the Gento Group as we have signed the lease agreement with Gento Group,” the letter states, adding, “We deeply appreciate your consideration and remain hopeful to your sincerity and God-fearing character.”
The Paramount Chiefs’ correspondence was copied to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, the Secretary to President, Director General National Mineral Agency (NMA), and the Director of Mines (NMA), with an enclosed copy of the lease agreement and receipt of payments.
Gento Group of Companies assures all stakeholders, including local and international investors, development partners, government agencies and the general public, that it remains committed to responsible, transparent and lawful investment ventures in Sierra Leone, and cannot be deterred by acts of bad faiths and misinformation, concluding that, “Where necessary, Gento Group will explore all legal avenues to protects its name, reputation and business interests.
This scramble for the Kasafoni Iron Ore Deposit is an experiment to determine if Sierra Leonean authorities’ are uncompromising in protecting their legally enshrined policies, in this case, the Local Content Policy, which calls for the creation of opportunities for businesses owned by Sierra Leonean indigenes to increase job facilities and local manufacturing, thereby boosting the economy.