Buy Gold in Sierra Leone with Zero Upfront Financing

Sierra Leone

Primary minerals	Gold (dust and bars), rough diamonds, rutile, bauxite, iron ore
Key gold areas	Bo and Tonkolili districts, plus Kono and Kenema
Regulator	National Minerals Agency (NMA), Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources
Governing law	Mines and Minerals Development Act 2022 (in force May 2023)
Export duty on gold	3% of value at the London fix, collected by the NMA
Export hub	Freetown International Airport, Lungi
Our presence	Head office, No 78 Hamilton Avenue, Freetown

Who regulates gold in Sierra Leone

Mining falls under the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources. The National Minerals Agency (NMA) licenses the trade and, through its Directorate of Precious Minerals Trading, values and certifies every gold and diamond export and collects export duty. That directorate took over the functions of the former Government Gold and Diamond Office (GGDO), so a seller who still talks about "GGDO paperwork" is quoting an outdated system.

The Mines and Minerals Development Act 2022, in force since 12 May 2023, replaced the 2009 Act. A separate 2023 Act created a state mining corporation. In 2025 and 2026 the government studied Ghana's GoldBod model, and a Bank of Sierra Leone and NMA arrangement on central bank gold buying was reported in May 2026; we track these changes on every transaction.

Gold licences in Sierra Leone

The 2022 Act sets out artisanal, small scale, large scale, dealer and exporter licences:

• Artisanal licences are reserved for Sierra Leonean citizens.
• Dealer licences go to citizens, cooperatives or companies with at least 10% Sierra Leonean shareholding.
• Exporter licences are held by registered companies, which may buy from licensed dealers and artisanal licensees. A foreign licence holder must keep a resident authorised agent in Sierra Leone.
• Dealer and exporter licences last up to one year and cannot be transferred.

So a foreign buyer cannot simply buy gold from miners as a private person and fly it home. You either buy from a licensed exporter, or your company obtains an exporter licence. Checking that the licence is current, and that it belongs to the company actually selling to you, is the first thing we verify.

How gold is exported from Sierra Leone, step by step

1. The exporter gives the NMA's precious minerals unit 24 hours' notice of the export.
2. The exporter presents its licence, a bank statement tracing the purchase funds, and purchase receipts.
3. The gold is weighed and assayed in the presence of the exporter, a mines monitoring officer and customs, with an acid test where needed. Value is set by specific gravity at the London fix.
4. The 3% export duty is paid.
5. The gold is sealed in a box and the gold certificate is signed by the Minister or a delegate.
6. The consignment leaves through Freetown International Airport at Lungi, with certificate copies sent to mines monitoring, national security and customs.

When we finance a Sierra Leone deal, our Freetown team attends steps 3 to 6 in person and pays the duty and freight directly to the NMA and the carrier.

Duties and royalties on gold

In practice the NMA charges a 3% export duty on the total value of each gold export, calculated at the London fix. Separately, the Extractive Industries Revenue Act 2018 sets a 5% royalty on precious metals from large scale mines and 3% for minerals produced under artisanal licences. Rates are reviewed in annual Finance Acts, so we confirm the current figure with the NMA before every shipment. These are government charges: they are paid to the NMA, never to a seller.

Where Sierra Leone's gold comes from

Artisanal gold is mined mainly in the Bo and Tonkolili districts, with further production across Kono and Kenema, where the diamond fields lie. Most gold reaching Freetown exporters has passed through diggers, financiers and local dealers first, which is why independent verification of origin, weight and purity matters before any money moves.

Industrial gold mining is growing. FG Gold's Baomahun project, the country's first large scale gold mine, reached financial close on a US$330 million loan in December 2025 and targets around 150,000 ounces a year.

Diamonds in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone exports rough diamonds under the Kimberley Process. The NMA values diamonds and issues Kimberley Process certificates, and Kono District remains the historic heart of the diamond fields. We finance diamond purchases only through certified channels; see diamond purchase financing.

Gold scams in Sierra Leone and how to avoid them

• Fake export tax demands. In July 2026 two people were charged in Freetown over about US$210,000 taken from foreign buyers by a fake gold company collecting "export taxes" with forged receipts. Export duty is paid to the NMA at the point of export, not wired to a seller in advance.
• Unverifiable documents. Since 2024 NMA export documents carry a QR code that can be checked online. A certificate that cannot be verified should end the conversation.
• Outdated paperwork. References to GGDO certificates or the 2009 Act signal a seller working from old templates.
• Prices far below the London fix. Legitimate exporters price against the fix. A deep discount is the bait, not the bargain.

Our full guide to avoiding gold scams in West Africa covers the wider pattern.

How we finance a gold purchase in Sierra Leone

1. You apply online at no cost and receive a reference number you can track.
2. We complete KYC on you and verify the exporter's NMA licence, ownership and resident agent.
3. Our Freetown team inspects the goods and attends the NMA weighing and assay.
4. We issue written terms, then pay the 3% export duty, insurance and air freight directly to the NMA and providers.
5. The sealed consignment flies from Lungi; you run your final assay at destination and settle. Our single success fee is due only then.

Because Sierra Leone is our home market, due diligence here is our fastest, and our team is physically present at every step that matters.

Frequently asked questions: buying gold in Sierra Leone

Other markets we finance

We finance verified gold transactions across West Africa: Ghana · Guinea · Mali · Burkina Faso · Côte d'Ivoire · Liberia · Senegal. See all country guides or read our guide to avoiding gold scams.

Apply for financing in Sierra Leone

Buying gold in Sierra Leone, or holding goods and looking for a verified buyer? Submit your deal through our buyer application or seller registration. We review within 2 business days, and if it stands up to due diligence, we carry every upfront cost while you settle after delivery and final assay.