The Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) has confirmed its expanded role as Independent Administrator for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) reporting process, taking responsibility for preparing reports, analysing extractive-sector data and identifying gaps in disclosures.
The expanded mandate is expected to strengthen mining transparency in Sierra Leone by improving the quality, reliability and accountability of information disclosed by mining companies and government institutions.
In a press release dated October 28, ASSL said the new responsibility follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI) in June 2026.
Under the agreement, ASSL will move beyond its previous responsibility for certifying reporting templates submitted by mining companies, government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and chiefdom authorities.
The expanded responsibilities include preparing EITI reports, conducting scoping exercises, analysing information, identifying reporting gaps and inconsistencies, and recommending improvements to governance across Sierra Leone’s extractive sector.
ASSL said the partnership would improve the quality, reliability and credibility of extractive-sector disclosures while strengthening collaboration among government institutions, mining companies, civil society organisations and development partners.
SLEITI National Coordinator Mohamed Baimba Koroma expressed confidence in ASSL’s technical competence, institutional credibility and ability to handle sensitive information.
“The appointment is a novel development within the African Organisation of English-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions sub-region,” ASSL said.
What the Expanded EITI Reporting Role Means for Sierra Leone
The expanded role of Audit Service Sierra Leone represents a change in how the country’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative reporting process will be managed.
Previously, ASSL was responsible for certifying reporting templates submitted by companies and government institutions. Under the new arrangement, the institution will take on broader responsibilities as Independent Administrator, including preparing reports and examining information provided by stakeholders.
This means the Audit Service will play a more direct role in assessing the completeness and consistency of information disclosed by participants in the extractive sector.
The process will also involve identifying discrepancies in reported information and making recommendations to address weaknesses in extractive-sector reporting.
The partnership between ASSL and SLEITI is expected to support stronger institutional accountability and improve public access to reliable information about the management of Sierra Leone’s natural resources.
Understanding EITI and Mining Transparency in Sierra Leone
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global framework that promotes transparency and accountability in the management of oil, gas and mineral resources.
Through EITI reporting, governments and extractive companies disclose information that allows citizens, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to examine how natural resources are managed and how revenues are collected and distributed.
In Sierra Leone, EITI reporting covers more than government revenue figures. It includes information on mining licences and contracts, mineral production, exports, revenue collection and allocation, the extractive sector’s economic contributions, and environmental, social and governance issues.
These disclosures help stakeholders understand how the mining industry contributes to the national economy and whether the benefits of natural resource extraction are reaching the wider population.
Sierra Leone joined the EITI in 2008 and has continued to use the initiative to strengthen transparency and accountability in its extractive industries.
Why Reliable EITI Reporting Matters for Extractive-Sector Governance
Publishing information is only one part of ensuring transparency. The accuracy, completeness and reliability of disclosed information are equally important.
The EITI Standard provides a framework for timely disclosure, data quality and assurance, helping ensure that information published by companies and government institutions can be examined and used for public accountability.
The expanded mandate of Audit Service Sierra Leone is intended to strengthen this process by improving how extractive-sector information is collected, analysed and reported.
ASSL said the partnership would help align Sierra Leone’s extractive-sector disclosures with internationally recognised standards.
“By aligning Sierra Leone’s extractive sector disclosures with internationally recognized standards, the partnership is expected to elevate the quality, reliability, and credibility of EITI reporting,” ASSL said.
The institution added that accessible, high-quality data would support informed public debate, reinforce institutional accountability and help ensure that Sierra Leone’s natural resources deliver sustainable benefits to all citizens.
The expanded reporting responsibility is therefore expected to strengthen cooperation between government institutions, extractive companies, civil society organisations and development partners while supporting greater transparency in the management of Sierra Leone’s natural resources.
