Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah has underscored the need for Sierra Leoneans to remain the primary beneficiaries as global powers, particularly the United States, intensify interest in the country’s critical minerals and investment opportunities.
Speaking on the growing engagement between Sierra Leone and the United States, Minister Bah acknowledged Washington’s ambition to position American companies at the forefront of investment opportunities, especially in the critical minerals sector, which has become increasingly important due to global demand for resources needed for renewable energy, electric vehicles, advanced technology, and defence industries.
“They want to be at the front of the queue when it comes to critical minerals, and that is something we are negotiating,” Bah stated.
The Minister explained that Sierra Leone welcomes competition among international investors, but stressed that such competition must translate into meaningful benefits for the country and its citizens.
“It is our responsibility to make sure that we benefit from that competition. Americans are capitalists. It’s a competition. What we want to do is to get the best deal for the people of this country,” he said.
Bah noted that the government’s priority is to ensure that foreign investments go beyond the extraction and exportation of raw materials by creating long-term economic value through job creation, skills development, technology transfer, infrastructure development, and increased national revenue.
He maintained that Sierra Leone must negotiate from a position of strength and ensure that agreements with investors align with the country’s broader development aspirations.
“We must make sure that whatever investments come into this country, the ordinary people of Sierra Leone benefit from them,” he emphasised.
Addressing concerns over increasing competition between the United States and China for influence in Africa’s resource sector, the Information Minister urged citizens not to be distracted by geopolitical tensions.
“One of China’s biggest trading partners is the United States. So forget about what you hear at the Senate hearing, the red meat that is thrown,” Bah remarked.
His comments come at a time when the United States is seeking to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals, reducing dependence on limited sources of strategic resources required for clean energy technologies, battery production, and modern industries.
Sierra Leone is emerging as an important player in this global minerals landscape, with significant deposits of rutile, iron ore, bauxite, diamonds, gold, and other emerging critical minerals, including lithium, graphite, coltan, and rare earth elements.
Recognising the growing importance of these resources, the Government of Sierra Leone launched its National Strategy for Critical Minerals 2026–2031, aimed at attracting responsible investment, promoting local processing, developing skilled manpower, creating employment opportunities, and ensuring greater value retention within the country.
The strategy reflects the government’s ambition to move away from the traditional model of exporting unprocessed minerals and instead encourage value addition through local refining, processing, and manufacturing activities.
Sierra Leone’s mining sector already hosts several international operators, including companies involved in iron ore, rutile, and other mineral projects, with investments from various global partners. The country has also continued to engage international partners in areas such as infrastructure development, energy, and financing to support economic transformation.
Minister Bah’s message is that Sierra Leone must take advantage of the growing global competition for its natural resources, but only through agreements that place national interests and the welfare of citizens at the centre.
As major economies compete for access to critical minerals, the government says Sierra Leone’s focus will remain on attracting investment that delivers sustainable growth, economic opportunities, and lasting benefits for its people.