By Foday Moriba Conteh

A significant step toward promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth was taken on Friday, 27th June 2025, as the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) signed a Local Content Implementation Agreement with FG Gold Limited. Held at the Agency’s headquarters on Steward Street in Freetown, the signing ceremony marked a major milestone in enforcing the Local Content Act of 2016 within Sierra Leone’s mining and extractive industries.

Speaking during the signing, the Director-General of the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency, Fodeba Daboh, emphasized the legal obligation under Section 56 of the Local Content Act, which mandates that companies must sign a local content partnership agreement before they are issued a certificate of authorization to operate.

“What we are doing here is a statutory requirement,” Fodeba Daboh stated. “Once a company submits its local content plan and it is approved by the Agency, we must ensure, through regular monitoring and audits, that the content of that plan is fully implemented.”

The agreement with FG Gold formalizes the company’s commitment to embedding inclusive, sustainable and legally compliant local content practices in its operations. These include workforce development, procurement compliance, technology transfer and broader economic contributions to Sierra Leone.

According to Fodeba Daboh, the rationale behind the agreement is to ensure that Sierra Leonean talent, businesses and institutions are meaningfully integrated into the company’s value chain. The agreement provides a structured framework for FG Gold to plan, implement and report on its local content obligations, aligning with national priorities such as job creation, enterprise development and knowledge transfer.

“Workforce integration is central to our work at the Agency,” he said. “This agreement will create increased employment and skills development opportunities for Sierra Leoneans. It ensures the gradual localization of technical and managerial roles within FG Gold.”

He further highlighted the importance of procurement and supplier development, which the agreement is expected to bolster by enabling local businesses to access contracts and build capacity for direct participation in the mining sector. Additionally, FG Gold will invest in technology transfer by training local staff, fostering joint ventures and providing access to modern tools and technology.

“The presence of FG Gold in the mining sector must translate into broader-based economic development through social investments, institutional support and measurable local value retention,” Fodeba Daboh added. “This agreement represents mutual accountability and a shared vision to ensure that foreign direct investment delivers tangible, lasting benefits to the people and economy of Sierra Leone.”

He also contextualized the local content initiative within a broader global trend, pointing to similar efforts in countries such as Ghana and Nigeria. Ghana recently reviewed its local content laws to enhance local economic development, while Nigeria launched the "Nigerian First Policy" to prioritize local participation in multinational operations.

“The Local Content Agency in Sierra Leone is not doing anything different from what our counterparts are doing across the sub-region,” Fodeba Daboh noted. “We are committed to ensuring that Sierra Leoneans are in the driver’s seat of our economic growth.”

He concluded by thanking FG Gold for its cooperation and affirmed that the agreement will be reviewed annually, in accordance with Section 58 of the Local Content Act.

Commenting on behalf of FG Gold, Nicola Asgill, Director of Corporate Development, Sustainability and Investor Relations, described the agreement as a major step forward in ensuring that Sierra Leoneans are placed at the center of the company’s operations.

“We’re here to sign this landmark agreement, which underscores our dedication to local content and sustainable mining,” she said. “FG Gold is currently developing the Baomahun Gold Project, set to become the premier gold mine in Sierra Leone and one of the largest gold assets in Africa. Its economic and social impact on Sierra Leone will be profound.”

Nicola Asgill emphasized that FG Gold operates with a “local-first” philosophy, ensuring that Sierra Leoneans are prioritized in procurement, recruitment and capacity building. Even in its pre-operational phase, the company has already made significant strides toward local inclusion.

“Currently, over 90% of our workforce is Sierra Leonean and more than 55% of that number comes from the immediate project-affected communities,” she revealed. “Importantly, over 70% of our hires are former artisanal miners from those communities.”

To build on this, FG Gold has introduced training programs such as driver training and basic maintenance apprenticeships aimed at up skilling workers and improving career progression. The company also sources materials like construction blocks, sand, fresh vegetables and fruits directly from local suppliers and communities, demonstrating a tangible commitment to local economic growth.

In the education sector, FG Gold has established a scholarship fund targeting students from the community pursuing studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Nicola Asgill noted that plans are underway to expand these efforts through partnerships with local universities for internship and graduate training programs.

“As we transition into full operations by the end of next year, we aim to implement several skills and technology transfer initiatives. FG Gold is here for the long term and we count on the expertise of the Local Content Agency to help us maximize local participation in all aspects of our work,” she added.

Nicola Asgill concluded by thanking the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency for its collaboration and guidance during the development phase of the Baomahun Project.

“This agreement sets a strong foundation for our future and reinforces our shared goal of ensuring that foreign investment leads to meaningful benefits for Sierra Leoneans,” she said.

The ceremony concluded with the official signing of the agreement by both parties, followed by the formal presentation of the Certificate of Authorization by the Director-General of the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency, Fodeba Daboh, to Nicola Asgill, Director of Corporate Development, Sustainability, and Investor Relations at FG Gold. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/fg-gold-signs-landmark-local-content-implementation-agreement-with-local-content-agency/