What we check in Sierra Leone
| Check | Where the record is held |
|---|---|
| Company existence, directors and shareholders | Corporate Affairs Commission |
| Artisanal, small-scale or large-scale mining licence | National Minerals Agency |
| Dealer or exporter licence for precious minerals | National Minerals Agency |
| Export documents for the lot | The authorities named in the export file |
| Source, fineness and quantity | Our inspection and testing |
Local points that change the answer
- The Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2022 replaced the 2009 Act in May 2023; licences are read under the law in force when they were granted and renewed.
- Mining, dealing and exporting are separate licences. A miner’s licence does not allow export, and an exporter must hold a current exporter licence for the year.
- Much of the gold is artisanal and passes through several hands before Freetown; origin is checked against the documents and, where possible, at source.
- Company searches are largely made in person in Freetown, so records are confirmed at the registry rather than from copies supplied by the seller.
How the engagement runs
- Brief — the supplier’s name and the documents it has given you, through the Due Diligence form.
- Scope — we confirm the scope under the Nairank Global Standard, the timetable and the fee for work in Sierra Leone.
- Records — company and licence records obtained from the registry and the licensing authority; documents confirmed with their issuers.
- Field work — where in scope, inspection of the site or warehouse and testing of the material by our own personnel.
- Screening — company, directors and owners screened against sanctions, PEP and adverse-media sources.
- Report — each finding with its evidence and a recommendation.
Where we work in Sierra Leone
We work from Freetown, with field work at mine sites and dealers in the provinces. See gold testing in Freetown and our West Africa page.