An independent verification service for Sierra Leone's gold & diamond trade
Sierra Leone Minerals Register is an independent service that helps buyers, sellers, banks and customs confirm that a counterparty is licensed and that a shipment is real and tax-paid before any money moves. Public register and scam-prevention information is free to everyone. We are not a government body and we are not a party to any transaction — we publish and verify the facts of record so the market can deal with confidence.
Why this exists
Sierra Leone is one of West Africa's major gold and diamond producers, yet most losses in the trade come down to one avoidable thing: dealing with an unlicensed party or an unverified shipment. Licence fraud, forged export certificates and advance-fee "gold dust" scams cost honest buyers and sellers real money and damage the country's reputation. We built this portal to put the authorities' public records and a clear verification path in one neutral place, free to use, so a bad deal can be caught before it happens.
What we do
- Reproduce the national minerals register so anyone can check whether an exporter, dealer or miner is licensed and currently active.
- Let buyers verify that a specific shipment is real, licensed and tax-paid — by code or printed QR.
- Publish the official export, valuation and licensing procedures in plain language.
- Maintain a moderated, evidence-backed list of flagged parties and common scams.
- Offer document screening and monitoring for members who want a closer check on a deal.
Independent and neutral
We have no stake in whether any particular deal goes ahead. We do not sell gold or diamonds, we do not broker transactions, and a licence listing on this site is a public register fact, not an endorsement. Our flagged-parties list follows due process: a company is only named publicly after corroborating evidence and a right of reply.
Who operates it
Sierra Leone Minerals Register is an independent initiative operated by ESC LTD SL. Core public information — the register, verification and scam data — is free. The service is sustained by optional premium verification, monitoring and document-screening services for businesses. Questions, corrections or partnership enquiries: info@sierraleoneminerals.org.
Coverage
Sierra Leone is live. Ghana and Guinea are rolling out, with Mali, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire planned across West Africa's gold belt.