By Albert David
When nations lose in court, they lose more than money. They lose credibility, sovereignty, and the trust of their people. Sierra Leone’s recent legal defeats, first against the Gerald Group (SL Mining, now rebranded as Marampa Mining) and then against its own hired law firm, represent not just financial hemorrhage but a devastating indictment of governance under President Julius Maada Bio.
The First Blow: A $1.5 Billion Settlement
In 2020–2021, Sierra Leone was dragged before international arbitration for breach of contract with Gerald Group. The outcome was catastrophic:
A $1.5 billion in cash compensation paid directly from Sierra Leone’s coffers. Gerald Group returned triumphantly, merely changing its name to Marampa Mining, a cosmetic disguise that fooled no one.
The company secured 99.45% of Marampa’s mining rights for 30 years, effectively monopolizing one of Sierra Leone’s most strategic resources for an entire generation.
This was not just a legal defeat, it was the surrender of national wealth. A government entrusted with safeguarding the people’s resources instead handed them over, undermining sovereignty and mortgaging the future of millions.
As if the first humiliation were not enough, the very law firm hired to defend Sierra Leone turned predator. Claiming underpayment and excessive workload, they sued the government, and won. Initially paid $3.6 million, the firm demanded more. The international court ordered Sierra Leone to pay $8.1 million. The Bio administration quietly agreed, shielding the public from the truth.
This second defeat is more than financial mismanagement, it is a grotesque irony. The defenders became accusers, and the government capitulated again, exposing a culture of negligence and deception.
Billions drained from public funds while unemployment soars. Mining rights locked away, leaving Sierra Leoneans with crumbs from their own soil. Settlements hidden, accountability evaded, citizens misled. Governance reduced to manipulation, undermining democracy and civic faith.
This is not merely about numbers, it is about the betrayal of a nation’s future. The Bio government’s actions reveal a troubling pattern: interference in private sector affairs, disregard for transparency, and reckless disregard for economic stability.
Sierra Leone’s losses are not isolated incidents. They are symptoms of a deeper malaise: bad governance, undemocratic practices, and a leadership that prioritizes survival over accountability. The Gerald Group saga and the law firm debacle expose a government willing to gamble with national wealth, deceive its citizens, and compromise the country’s stability.
The result? A crumbling economy, skyrocketing unemployment, and a nation trapped in cycles of dependency and despair.
Sierra Leone’s billion-dollar betrayal is not just a headline, it is a warning. Unless governance is reformed, transparency enforced, and accountability demanded, the nation risks becoming a cautionary tale of squandered potential.
The people deserve better than secrecy and surrender. They deserve leadership that protects, not plunders.
