Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. In a revelation that has sent shockwaves through Sierra Leone’s political and civic landscape, Finance Minister Sheku Fantamahdi Bangura disclosed that the country exported an estimated $1.5 billion worth of minerals last year, yet only $16 million was recorded in the National Treasury.
This staggering discrepancy raises urgent questions about the integrity of the nation’s revenue mechanisms and continue to casts a long shadow over the Ministry of Mines, headed by Julius Mathai.
This is not merely a fiscal anomaly. It is a betrayal of democratic principles, a violation of public trust, and a direct assault on the suffering majority who continue to endure poverty, underdevelopment, and systemic neglect. When billions vanish without trace, it is not just money that is lost, it is the future of Sierra Leone.
Institutional Complicity: A National Crisis
The implications of this revelation are deeply troubling. It suggests institutional complicity at the highest levels of government. It points to a culture of impunity, where accountability is evaded and corruption is normalized. Such systemic rot undermines:
National development, by depriving the state of critical resources for infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
National security, by fueling disenfranchisement and instability.
Economic and political growth, by eroding investor confidence and weakening democratic institutions.
This is not just a scandal, it is a national emergency.
Sierra Leoneans deserve more than vague reassurances. They deserve answers. They deserve justice. They deserve a full independent audit of the Ministry of Mines and all associated revenue streams. The mechanisms by which mineral wealth is tracked, taxed, and transferred must be subjected to rigorous scrutiny.
We must ask:
Who authorized these exports?
Where did the revenue go?
Why was only a fraction recorded?
What systems failed, or were deliberately bypassed?
A Call for Radical Transparency
This is a moment for radical professionalism in journalism, governance, and civil society. The media must pursue this story with relentless vigor. Parliament must demand full disclosure. Civil society must mobilize. And the international community must take note.
Transparency is not a luxury, it is a constitutional obligation. Accountability is not optional, it is the foundation of democracy.
Enough Is Enough
Sierra Leone cannot afford to continue to lose billions to silence. The people cannot afford to be betrayed again. The constitution cannot afford to be mocked by those sworn to uphold it.
This is a defining moment. Either we confront the truth, or we surrender to decay.
Let this be the beginning of a new era: one of truth, transparency, and transformation.
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