Mines and Energy Minister Wilmot Paye, says, the ongoing 10th Ordinary Conference of the Council of Ministers of the African Diamond Producers Association taking place in Freetown, Sierra Leone, is making meaningful impact on Liberia’s preparation for its Kimberly Process Certification Scheme review in June this year.
Speaking from the Sierra Leonean’s Capital Freetown, Minister Paye said, the conference is providing important counterpart experiences in ensuring proper regulatory frameworks are put in place to increase revenue generation from diamond production by member countries of the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA).
Stressing the importance of regional experience sharing, Minister Paye said, unlike Sierra Leone which does its diamond production on an industrial scale, the current method of artisanal and small scale production of the Mineral is challenging Liberia’s capacity to be a global voice amongst member countries of ADPA.
According to the Mines and Energy Minister, with Africa’s new approach of ‘measure it in order to manage it’, Liberia will have to carry out its own exploration in strategizing means of transitioning the Country to industrial production of diamond to generate huge revenue needed for economic growth and national development.
Giving highlights from inception activities of the Freetown 2025 ADPA Council of Ministers Conference, Minister Paye disclosed that at the conclusion of the meetings, Sierra Leone will assume Chairmanship of the Association for the next two years, taking over from Zimbabwe.
He expressed delight in efforts the Liberian Government made in reactivating the Country’s membership with the Diamond Producers Association by settling partial longstanding arrears which accumulated over the years.
This is Liberia’s third participation in the ADPA annual conference. Madam Rebecca Fallah, who heads the office of Precious Minerals at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, is forming part of the Liberian Government’s delegation at the ADPA Conference in Freetown.
While in Freetown, Minister Wilmot Paye will also represent government at programs marking Sierra Leone’s observance of its ‘2025 Mining Week.
