Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chair of the Kimberley Process (KP), led a delegation from the UAE, the current KP Chair country, to Sierra Leone and Ghana in March to evaluate the local implementation of Kimberley Process procedures.
This is the first visit to both nations by an acting KP Chair, aimed at gaining insights into best practices applied in the two countries.
During the five-day visit to Sierra Leone and Ghana, Bin Sulayem engaged in discussions with government officials, industry representatives, and artisanal miners across the countries, including with Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President, Sierra Leone.
The UAE delegation visited significant diamond exploration sites, including the underground Meya Mine, artisanal mines, and Gemfair – a De Beers-initiated pilot programme providing a secure and transparent route to market for ethically-sourced ASM diamonds from Sierra Leone. This initiative is underpinned by a tailored digital traceability solution.
“Both Sierra Leone and Ghana are exemplary members of the Kimberley Process, actively participating across several of its work streams. These countries have been exceptionally successful in leveraging the KP to curb smuggling, with robust internal controls and mechanisms that set the standard. In this year of delivery for the Kimberley Process, and the industry facing challenging geopolitical overreach, it’s crucial that we listen and learn from each other as we collectively shape the next generation, including a more digital version of the Kimberley Process,” Ahmed Bin Sulayem said.
Theodor Lisovoy, Editor in Chief of the European bureau, Rough&Polished
