By Foday Moriba Conteh

Child labour in mining remains a persistent and serious child protection challenge in several parts of Sierra Leone, particularly in diamond- and gold-rich districts such as Kono, despite strong national laws and ongoing efforts by Government agencies and child protection actors to curb the practice.

Children, mostly between the ages of 10 and 17, are still found working in artisanal mining pits locally known as “Gben-Gbens,” gravel washing points and other mining-related support activities. Economic hardship, school dropout, lack of parental support and weak enforcement of existing laws continue to expose children to hazardous work in artisanal mining communities.

Sierra Leone has a robust legal framework that completely prohibits child labour in mining, classifying it as one of the worst forms of child labour.

Under the Child Rights Act (CRA) of 2007 as amended in 2025, a child is defined as anyone under the age of 18. Section 125 of the Act explicitly prohibits engaging children in hazardous work or any activity that endangers their health, education or development. Mining is clearly listed as hazardous work under the CRA guidelines.

Similarly, the Mines and Minerals Act of 2009 and the revised 2022 Act strictly forbid the use of child labour in all mining activities. The law makes it illegal for mining licence holders and artisanal operators to employ children and provides sanctions for violators, including fines, suspension of licences and prosecution.

Internationally, Sierra Leone is a signatory to International Labour Organization Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, which classifies mining as one of the most dangerous forms of child labour and obliges ratifying states to ensure its immediate elimination.

Yet, despite those legal protections, child mining persists in many artisanal mining communities across mining communities in Kono District.

Kono District has historically been Sierra Leone’s diamond hub. In recent years, however, artisanal gold mining has expanded as diamond reserves decline. In villages such as Kumaro and Baoma, large-scale operators like Gold Lion Mining Company are present, but evidence suggests that these companies do not employ children.

Instead, most children found mining are working in unregulated artisanal gold sites, often operated by their parents or close relatives. These sites are typically located in areas deemed unprofitable by large-scale companies and are characterized by open pits as deep as four metres (13 feet), posing serious safety risks.

Before mining expanded in those communities, residents relied largely on small-scale farming and petty trading. However, mining activities have rendered much of the farmland unusable, leaving families with few livelihood options. With no alternative employment opportunities, many households turn to artisanal mining to survive, drawing children into the process and exposing them to life-threatening hazards.

The dangers of child mining were recently highlighted by a tragic incident in Nyimbadu Village, Kono District, where 16-year-old Mohamed Bangura and 17-year-old Yayah Jenneh died while mining for gold in an unregulated pit. Media reports indicate that this was the third fatal mining accident involving children in the area, bringing the total number of child deaths linked to mining in the region to at least five over the past four years.

Uncovered pits filled with water have also led to frequent drowning incidents, particularly affecting children and young girls who fetch water or spend time around mining sites.

Komba Umara, Town Chief of Baoma Village, said local authorities regularly engage parents and community members to discourage child labour in mining. He noted that while children are sometimes arrested during site visits, enforcement is complicated by poverty.

“In most cases, parents come to plead for their children,” he said. “These parents are very poor and depend on their children to help them survive. Sometimes, all we can do is caution them and release the children.”

Fatu Sesay, a widow and mother of a child miner, said she relies on her young son to help support the family. “There’s no alternative,” she explained. “The farming we depended on before is no longer possible because of mining. I am poor, a widow and a single parent.”

At an artisanal mining site in Baoma Village, 16-year-old Ibrahim Sesay, who dreams of becoming a doctor, said he spends his days mining to support his mother. “My mother don’t have money; that is what we are trying to find,” he said, adding that he hopes to raise enough money to register and sit his WASSCE exams so he can return to school. “I am not happy being here. I know this work is risky.”

In nearby Kumaro Village, Musa James, the community chairlady, echoed similar concerns. She said many parents depend on their children to contribute to household income and school expenses through mining. “We try our best to stop children from going to mining sites, but it is very difficult. When parents come to plead, you will nearly weep for them,” she said.

Civil Society activist, Ibrahim A. B. Bockarie, Executive Director of the Concerned Citizens Governance Network (CCGN), said child mining has increased significantly over the past year following operational challenges and the eventual collapse of major mining companies, including Koidu Mining Limited in Kono District.

According to Ibrahim A. B. Bockarie, the withdrawal of corporate miners has led to weak control of mining sites, with security personnel allegedly colluding with civilians to allow unrestricted access to abandoned pits.

“The collapse of these companies has left mining sites unsecured within the Koidu Mining Limited concession areas,” he said. “As a result, children are increasingly exposed to dangerous mining activities, which affect their health, education and overall wellbeing.”

Ibrahim A. B. Bockarie added that when large companies were operational, they generally complied with mining regulations, by not employing children.

He called on the Government to decentralize mining governance by empowering host communities to negotiate directly with mining companies, while the central Government plays a supervisory and regulatory role.

“Until communities are given real power over mining activities, there will be no sanity in the mining sector,” he warned. 

Responding to concerns, Kai Lebbie, Regional Manager for the Eastern Region at the National Minerals Agency (NMA), said the use of child labour in mining is strictly prohibited under the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2023 as well as other child protection laws.

Kai Lebbie disclosed that the NMA has deployed over 50 Mines Compliance Officers across Kono District to enforce compliance. These officers conduct daily monitoring of mining activities and collect real-time digital data using tablets supplied by the Agency. Child labour indicators are captured, analyzed and used to identify high-risk areas for targeted enforcement and sensitization.

He said the Agency has also intensified community sensitization, including radio discussions and meetings with miners and stakeholders in communities such as Kumaro, Tefeyah and Peyima.

“These engagements have largely succeeded in drastically reducing child labour in mining in Kono,” Kai Lebbie noted.

The NMA has also suspended mineral rights of operators found using child labour and works with the Sierra Leone Police to punish defaulters. In some cases, children found in mines have been arrested and handed over to the police for cautioning.

However, Kai Lebbie acknowledged key challenges, including limited manpower, logistics and economic hardship, which continues to push parents to send their children to mining sites. He also pointed out that the law is not explicit on specific penalties for child labour offences, calling for reforms to clarify sanctions and responsibility.

Commenting on behalf of the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs ongoing work to curb the involvement of children in mining activities in the district, Senior Protection Officer, Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs in Kono District, Abu Bakarr Kanu, outlined a series of interventions and persistent challenges in the fight against child mining and child labour in the district.

Abu Bakarr Kanu explained that the Ministry has been engaging in extensive public sensitization, particularly through radio programmes focused on child protection, child labour and exploitation in mining communities. These broadcasts, he said, have been instrumental in raising awareness about the risks children face in mining areas and the legal penalties for those who subject minors to hazardous labour.

He further noted that the Ministry has engaged stakeholders at both district and community levels to address child abuse and child labour collectively. Through collaboration with child protection partners and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Ministry has also held discussions with the National Minerals Agency (NMA) on strategies to prevent children from taking part in mining activities.

Highlighting progress made so far, Abu Bakarr Kanu said the Ministry’s interventions rely heavily on joint efforts with the Family Support Unit (FSU), child protection partners, and CSOs. These interventions include community sensitization on child protection laws and policies, which seek to protect children from all forms of abuse and exploitation. According to him, the Ministry has also reviewed and trained Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) across several chiefdoms on reporting mechanisms and referral pathways.

At the community level, he intimated that the Ministry has organized town hall sensitization meetings and workshops in chiefdom headquarter towns as well as also revived and trained CWCs and other community stakeholders to enhance their role in preventing and responding to child abuse cases.

In observance of international statutory events, such as the Day of the African Child on June 16, the Ministry, in partnership with the Child Friendly Network (CFN) and other child-led organisations, has conducted school sensitization tours on sexual and gender-based violence (SRGBV) and child labour.

Abu Bakarr Kanu disclosed that the Ministry conducts quarterly joint monitoring exercises to ensure community structures report cases of child abuse, including child labour in mining areas, to the relevant authorities for action. He emphasized that the Child Rights Act of 2007, amended in 2024, clearly prohibits child exploitation and child labour, with offenders subject to prosecution. As such, all related cases are swiftly reported to the police and the FSU for investigation and legal action.

Despite those efforts, Abu Bakarr Kanu highlighted a number of significant challenges hindering the Ministry’s work. These include lack of funding, inadequate staffing, limited mobility, absence of a safe home or remand facility in the district, frequent compromise of cases, limited support for victims and their families and delays in court proceedings.

He confirmed that while collaboration among child protection partners remains strong, cooperation with certain stakeholders, including the NMA, is inconsistent. “The major limitation across all stakeholders is the lack of adequate funding to fully implement activities aimed at protecting women and children across Kono District,” he maintained.

Abu Bakarr Kanu concluded by reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to working with all partners to eliminate child mining and safeguard the welfare of children in the district.

The situation in Sierra Leone reflects a broader global challenge. According to a June 2025 report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF, nearly 138 million children were engaged in child labour worldwide in 2024, including 54 million in hazardous work such as mining.

While the report notes a significant reduction of over 20 million children since 2020, the world has missed its target of eliminating child labour by 2025. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the heaviest burden, accounting for nearly 87 million child labourers, driven by poverty, population growth, conflict and weak social protection systems.

Mining falls under the industrial sector, which accounts for 13 per cent of child labour globally and is recognized as one of the most dangerous forms of work for children.

ILO and UNICEF have called on Governments to invest in social protection, quality education, child protection systems, decent work for adults and stronger enforcement of laws to accelerate progress.

In Sierra Leone’s mining communities, the persistence of child labour underscores the gap between law and reality. While legislation and enforcement mechanisms exist, poverty, lack of alternatives and weak local capacity continue to place children at risk.

As global and national actors renew calls to end child labour, communities like Baoma, Kumaro and Nyimbadu in Kono District remain a stark reminder that ending child mining will require not only laws, but livelihoods, education and sustained investment in children and families.

The publication is supported by the National Fund for Public Interest Media (NaFPIM), through the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), with funding from the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM) and the United Kingdom. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/artisanal-mining-fuels-surge-in-child-labour-across-kono-district/