Sierra Leone’s Mines Minister, Julius Daniel Mattai, has called on African governments to enhance cross-border collaboration and boost local mineral processing to retain more economic value from the continent’s resources.
Mattai made this appeal during the Mining in Motion conference in Accra, where he joined policymakers, mining executives, and investors to discuss strengthening Africa’s mining sector.
In a panel called “From Ore to Industry: Building Competitive African Beneficiation Corridors,” the minister stressed the importance of going beyond raw mineral exports and developing industries that process resources within Africa. He believes coordinated regional efforts can attract investment, improve infrastructure, and establish integrated mineral supply chains.
Mattai argued that such cooperation could help African economies capture more value from their mineral resources, while fostering industrial development and job creation. He urged governments, private investors, and development partners to turn discussions into actionable initiatives, emphasising the need for investment in mineral-processing capacity, infrastructure, and technical skills.
This move towards greater beneficiation highlights a significant policy challenge for mineral-rich African countries: transforming resource extraction into broader economic benefits rather than relying solely on raw commodity exports. For Sierra Leone, this issue aligns with efforts to maximise the domestic benefits of mining through value addition, investment, and responsible resource management.
