By: Patricia Ngevao
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has called for stronger coordination among government institutions to regulate sand extraction along Sierra Leone’s coastline, as it works to verify the licensing status of operators in Mahera, and compile inspection records for the area. In an exclusive interview with Awoko, EPA Executive Chairman, Abu Bakarr Massaquoi (PhD) said managing sand extraction was not solely the responsibility of his agency, but required the involvement of local councils, mining authorities, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, fisheries institutions, chiefdom authorities and the police. He said the institutions had “distinct but complementary mandates” and needed to work together to strengthen environmental monitoring and enforcement. The call comes as concerns rare made over sand extraction and coastal erosion in Mahera and sections of the Lungi coastline. Massaquoi said the EPA had not completed a site-specific environmental assessment to establish the extent to which sand extraction contributes to coastal erosion in Mahera. Although existing national coastal risk assessments identify the area as vulnerable to erosion, he said more research was needed to distinguish the effects of sand extraction from wave action, sea level rise, loss of coastal vegetation and unplanned development.
“The EPA does not currently have a scientifically validated extraction quota for Mahera,” he said, adding that setting limits without first establishing the coastal sediment budget and natural replenishment rate would be inappropriate. He said the required assessment should include historical shoreline analysis, beach surveys, extraction volume data and studies of marine habitats and fishing grounds. The EPA chairman said sand extraction falls within the extractive activities covered by the Environment Protection Agency Act, 2022, while the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2022, also regulates construction materials. Industrial scale or organized commercial extraction requires environmental screening and, depending on its size, location and environmental risks, an Environmental Impact Assessment licence. However, Massaquoi said the agency was still verifying the licensing and operating status of activities in Mahera and could not yet confirm whether operators were complying with the requirements.
He also said the EPA was compiling inspection records and could not provide a verified number of inspections conducted specifically in Mahera. Where violations are established, possible measures include compliance notices, suspension of activities, restoration orders and prosecution referrals, depending on the seriousness of the breach. Massaquoi said the EPA supported establishing clearly defined areas where sand extraction would be prohibited, restricted or permitted under controlled conditions, but acknowledged that a comprehensive zoning and quota system had not been fully implemented for Mahera. He said this would require cooperation among government agencies and consultation with affected communities. The chairman also recognized that sand trading provides income for women, young people, loaders and transporters, arguing that restrictions should be accompanied by viable livelihood alternatives. “Proposed measures include access to approved extraction sites, skills development, support for alternative employment and opportunities in coastal restoration and mangrove rehabilitation. The immediate priorities are to verify compliance, consolidate inspection records, conduct a scientific coastal assessment and agree on a coordinated approach with relevant institutions and communities,” Massaquoi said.
