Paramount Chiefs, Land Owners Support Gento Group of Companies over ownership of Kasafondi Land
By VOS Writer
Following the release of a breaking news that Gento Group of Companies had paid a surface rent for the Kasafondi land situated In Tonkolili North, the SierraLeone Mines and Mineral Development Corporation reacted to the news and challenged the legality of ownership of the said land by Gento Group of Companies. The corporation, who, according to investigation, failed to engage the Company, issued out a public notice claiming that the said land has been lawfully and exclusively allocated to them.
Countering such claims, the Paramount Chiefs of Sambaia, Dansogoia and Deing Chiefdoms who are also serving as the custodians of the land, cleared the Air by endorsing Gento Group of Companies as the “sole holder” of the land- a decision that was made during a signing of a lease agreement between Land owners, Paramount Chiefs and Gento Group of Companies.
The Paramount Chiefs opined that from what obtained in the existing lease agreement, Gento Group has the exclusive ownership right of the Kasafondi land.
“We want to inform the wider public and the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources that we have signed a lease agreement with Gento Group of Companies for the Kasafondi land in Tonkolili North”, they stated, adding that, the indigenes of the Chiefdoms, especially the land owning Families have made it categorically clear that it is their fundamental rights to accept and sign lease agreement with the company for their lands in Kasafondi.
“Based on the existing land lease agreement with Gento Group, we are not going to encourage any other company, institution or entity to undertake any mining activity on the land, except with the permission and approval from the Gento Group”, the Paramount Chiefs said in a letter addressed to the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources.
The Paramount Chiefs appreciate the company for changing the narrative in the land lease agreement.
“Gento Group is the First Company that signed a land lease agreement with land owners before opting for a mining license”, they underscored, and outlined the patriotism, sincerity and transparency displayed by the company during the signing of the lease agreement, which according to them, has never been demonstrated by any foreign companies in the history of the District.
Challenging the SLMMDC Claims, Gento Group of Companies stated in a press release dated 5th June, 2025 that: “The SLMMDC public notice is not only defamatory and scandalous; it is inconsistent with the provisions of the Mines and Mineral Development Act 2022, particularly section 33(3)(a) which mandates securing surface rights through agreements with the rightful landowners.
Being a 100% owned SierraLeonean company registered with the law of SierraLeone, Gento Group has a valid and existing land lease agreement with the Paramount Chiefs and Landowners of Sambaia, Dansogoia and Diang Chiefdoms- the customary Custodians of the Kasanfondi land.
This lease agreement is the foundational legal requirement for any interested applicant that want to obtain a large scale mining license. This is clear in Section (33) (3)(a) of the 2023 Mines and Mineral Development Act.
Stressing on the important of securing land lease agreement as a foundational requirement for obtaining a mining license, Gento Group stated that the company has adhered to the provision as outlined in the Mines and Mineral Act. They clarified that the company has only paid the surface rent and secure the land, but is yet to obtain large scale mining license.
The company urges SLMMDC to retract that “misleading public notice” that is designed to tarnish the image of the company and therefore urging them to refrain from further actions that could undermine local and international investor’s confidence in SierraLeone legal and regulatory framework.
