A teacher at Ahmadiyya Secondary school in Freetown says Sierra Leone needs a re-think on its mining policies to benefit the poor in the country.

In an exclusive interview with Africa 24 journalist, the teacher (name withheld) shared his bitter experience gathered from the notorious mining ground-base, Koidu Town, which is located in the east of Sierra Leone.

“The last time I visited Koidu town, I almost shed tears for residents living there. Houses are being disfigured to give way for mining exploration of diamonds to happen. The lands are dug up every day leaving up wide openings that may cause landslides.

It is sad that the people don’t get the benefits out of the mining proceeds that the state gets, ” he explained.

The veteran teacher continued on a sad tone, by narrating the poor status of the people including those in the teaching profession.

“We have gone almost four months without a pay (salaries) ; and honestly, when you take a look at this country you will notice that there is no development we could proud of out of the several precious minerals we are having as a country and being mined for so long now.”

Sierra Leone is ranked one of the richest countries in the world in terms of rich mineral deposits.

Its land has gold, nickel, graphite, and more in abundance, are diamonds, gold and iron ore.

The first diamond was seen in Kono, according to historians, Sierra Leone’s diamond deposit land, since 1930.

Despite its huge mineral deposits, world’s Human Development Index ( HDI) on countries’ ranking, have always put the tiny West African nation (Sierra Leone) as being one of the poorest in the world.

Currently, Sierra Leone is among the countries in attendance at a world’s forum with government’s delegations holding talks in Saudi Arabia at an event called Future Minerals Forum 2025.

However, as the event happens in the Asia country, this poor veteran teacher and the likes of many, now wishes for betterment on their lives from the sales of minerals at home.