By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
The Chairman, Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has raised serious concerns over the failure of Tanguma Mining Company to pay its 2024 license fees, despite evidence of continued operations. During a probing session on May 2, 2025, the PAC challenged the company’s claim that it had entered into a state of “care and maintenance,” a status which must be formally declared and communicated to the relevant authorities.
“Until officially informed, we consider your operations active,” Hon. Conteh told the company representatives. “And once you’re active, license fees are not optional — they are legally binding.”
The Committee noted that Tanguma Mining, along with partner company Newfields, may have internal arrangements on tax and fee responsibilities, but stressed that such private agreements do not negate the company’s legal obligations to the state.
“We are concerned with who is formally responsible. If your name is on the license, then the law holds you accountable,” Hon. Conteh added, emphasizing that there had been no official notification or communication about any change in operational responsibility.
With no clear evidence provided during the session regarding the payment of license fees or the nature of the operational dispute, the PAC resolved to summon the Managing Director of Tanguma Mining and his full management team, alongside the National Revenue Authority (NRA), to clarify the situation and provide a feasible payment plan.
The Committee made it clear that any resolution must include a binding commitment to pay the outstanding fees by May 31, 2025 — the same deadline given to other defaulting companies.
“The government depends on these revenues to deliver health, education, and other critical services,” said Hon. Conteh. “We cannot allow unpaid liabilities for an entire year to go unresolved, especially when the company has been operational.”
The PAC is expected to send formal summons and schedule a follow-up session to finalize timelines and enforce accountability. The Committee also warned that failure to comply with this process could result in operational suspension or further legal action, as provided for in the Finance Act and Income Tax Act.
The case forms part of a broader effort by the PAC to recover millions in unpaid royalties, license fees, and taxes owed by mining companies across Sierra Leone — ensuring transparency, fiscal discipline, and fair contribution to national development.
