Well-meaning Sierra Leoneans are concerned that if His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio is not cautious, his dream of transforming the country’s mineral sector and using mineral wealth to propel Sierra Leone to prosperity will not be actualized and possibly becomes a national disaster.

This concern largely emanates from the character of the individuals now championing the mineral wealth fund initiative and trying to hoodwink the President into signing what is clearly a very bad deal for the country Very bad deal for the country, but no doubt a good deal for these unscrupulous individuals as their main objective is to line their pockets with huge kickbacks and hefty commissions.

The saddest thing is that some of these individuals are within the President’s most trusted circle and are even holding high ranking cabinet positions The mineral wealth fund itself is a good idea as it is intended to help Government mobilise much needed capital for long-term development through the mineral sector It is this noble idea that some selfish politicians in connivance with a foreign national. Igor Silberud, now want to turn into a vehicle for personal enrichment. The first strategy of this cabal was to convince the President to appoint this Igor Silberud, a foreigner with no experience in the mineral sector, to head the Sierra Leone Mineral Wealth Fund as if there are no competent Sierra Leoneans to manage such strategic fund for the country.

This man, who claims to be a Financial and Strategic assets management expert, has no clue about the mineral sector or managing mineral wealth, has set up a company known as Mount View and he has now been put at the forefront of managing Sierra Leone’s commercial interest in mining. It is through this Mount View company that this shady character and some greedy politicians hope to channel proceeds from the mineral sector into their private bank accounts at the detriment of the country. According to an agreement already signed by the former Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, and the former Minister of Finance, the company will get 3% of the monthly gross revenue of and from all proceeds from Government’s commercial interests in mining paid “on a monthly basis into the bank account to be nominated by Mount View. This is just basic renumeration paid to this shady Mount View company for doing virtually nothing.

In addition, the company will also get 5% to 10% in bonuses. That is not all, as the company will also get 2.2% of any amount raised during “fundraising.” This is just a tip of the iceberg, as we shall continue to resist the agreement and expose these corrupt people in the coming days.

With all the above benefits at stake, it is no wonder that these greedy politicians, including some senior cabinet ministers, who have ganged up with Mount View are now pressuring President Bio to give his blessings to the agreement for them to start milking the country. President Bio, being a wise and prudent leader is taking his time to study the agreement, but these people continue to fight tooth and nail and to pressure the President to sanction their unholy plan We shall bring you more as events unfold.