On April 12, 2023, Hon Dr. Abdulai Danel Sesay, representing Constituency 052 in Tonkolili District, expressed concerns about the negative impact of illegal mining on his constituents.

He raised issues of water pollution and the need for proper resettlement. Dr. Sesay, who was also Acting Opposition Leader, stated that enacting a bill that addresses mining activities would help alleviate these problems.

The Bill in question, entitled The National Development Induced Resettlement Act 2023, aimed to establish uniform principles to guide the planning, implementation, and monitoring of development-induced resettlement activities in Sierra Leone.

The legislation was debated and passed into law with some amendments for the security and development of the country.

During the parliamentary debate, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Foday Jaward, emphasized the importance of the Bill for the socio-economic development and security of Sierra Leone.

He stated that the legislation was the first of its kind in the West African sub-region and would ensure proper planning for development activities.

Dr. Sesay expressed his appreciation for the resettlement issues addressed in the Bill and believed that it would go a long way in mitigating the impact of mining activities in communities.

With the passing of this legislation, Sierra Leone takes a step forward in managing the environmental and social impact of development activities.