Stakeholders in Sierra Leone’s extractive sector have called for greater attention to the country’s dimension stone resources, amid projections that the global market will rise from about US$5.74 billion in 2023 to US$7.02 billion by 2026.
Long-term estimates suggest the industry could reach US$20 billion, driven by increasing demand for construction and modern infrastructure.
Dimension stones, which include natural rocks such as granite, marble, limestone, and sandstone cut into blocks or slabs, are widely used in roads, ports, railways, and housing projects.
Despite their durability and strong market value, the materials remain significantly underutilised in Sierra Leone when compared with diamonds, gold, and bauxite.
These issues were highlighted during a Civic Engagement Forum convened by the African Centre for Climate Change on “Strengthening Accountability and Transparency in Sierra Leone’s Extractive Sector: Empowering Civil Society to Leverage Public Contract Disclosures for Monitoring and Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) Reduction.”
The event focused on the economic potential of dimension stones and the need for stronger governance in the sector.
Speaking at the forum, Engineer Hadji Dabo, Director General of the National Minerals Agency (NMA), said the dimension stone industry holds significant promise but faces serious challenges. He pointed to child labour, unsafe artisanal mining, gender inequality, and widespread non-compliance as ongoing concerns.
“Many companies secure quarry licenses but later exploit dimension stones illegally,” Dabo warned, noting that weak oversight has led to revenue losses and environmental damage.
He recalled previous government bans on timber harvesting and stone extraction but said these measures failed to ensure long-term regulatory control. “The seriousness of the issue has compelled the government to establish an institution dedicated to supervising extraction and exportation to enhance transparency,” he said.
Dr. Charles G. Ofori, Policy Lead for Climate Change and Energy Transition at the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), urged Sierra Leone not to overlook minerals classified as “small” or of lower commercial value.
“With accurate data we can calculate royalties, reduce leakages, and strengthen accountability. If Sierra Leone takes dimension-stone extraction seriously, it could contribute significantly to GDP,” he stressed.
Participants concluded the discussions with calls for stronger regulatory frameworks, accessible data, and effective taxation. They agreed that if managed responsibly, dimension stones could become a key driver of Sierra Leone’s economic growth and an important addition to the country’s broader extractive portfolio.
