Koidu Limited Mining Company over the weekend paid Le 837,361,993 (eight hundred and thirty seven million three hundred and sixty one thousand nine hundred and ninety three Leones to residents of Kono through their respective authorities for community development programmes at the Tankoro Youth Center Kimbadu Kono District.
The surface rent payment which is an annual event this time around happened simultaneously with the handing over of two rehabilitated food and none food modern Markets to the inhabitants of Kimbadu new settlement by the same Company to enhance their economic livelihood.
In an over view of the Koidu Limited grants the General Manager of the Company Recco Vermeulen said it’s part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to support community development programmes in line with Government agenda through human capital development and social services in their operational communities and beyond.
The company does not only contribute to the national revenue but create employment and provide yearly scholarships to students offering technical and other professional courses in various technical and tertiary institutions in Sierra Leone and abroad.
The Chairman Council of Paramount Chiefs Kono District PC Emmanuel T.T. Foryoh IV acknowledged the good work of Koidu Limited in The District especially in the areas of community development, local content policy and other social services like shelter, health centers, Schools, community or recreational centers, water Sanitation and hygiene facilities.
The Mayor of Koidu New Sembehun City, Mathew Komba Sam stated that over the years, grants given to them by the company have been utilized judiciously for the intended purpose and this time around they are going to construct a new Market in his City for the general use of the people.
Speaking on behalf of his Boss, PC Paul Ngaba Saquee V of Tankoro Chiefdom, the Chiefdom Speaker, Sahr Bobor Gando expressed gratitude to the Koidu Limited Mining Company for cooperating with the community in supporting community development initiatives and other social services.
He confirmed that the company had stayed on throughout the global pandemic to date supporting them.
The Chairman of the occasion who doubles as the Senior District Officer Kono District Augustine Fogbay maintained that the Koidu Limited Mining Company is highly supportive of the President Julius Maada Bio led Government especially towards the human capital development, strengthening the border security and structures in the District.
He added that the company has been very much supportive towards the administrative work of his Office.
Representatives of Civil Society Organization Mohamed A. Jalloh and Anti-Corruption Commission Hawanatu Kamara appreciated the transparent process involved in managing the grant programme but vowed to continue monitoring to enhance crime prevention.
BREAK DOWN OF SURFACE RENT DISTRIBUTION:
Le 125,604,299 for Community land owners;
Le 83,736,199 for Tankoro Chiefdom;
Le 87,736,199 for Constituency development fund; Le83,736,199 for Koidu New Sembehun Council; Le 41,868,100 and Le418,680,996 towards Tankoro Chiefdom Administration .
