Sierra Leone gold & diamond export — frequently asked questions
Is it safe to buy gold in Sierra Leone?
It is safe when you deal only with a licensed exporter and verify every shipment. Most losses come from fake licences and advance-fee scams. Confirm the exporter and licence on the register, verify the shipment's tax-paid certificate, and never pay an upfront "clearance" fee before independent proof. This portal lets you do all of that in one place.
How much does a Sierra Leone gold or diamond export licence cost?
Export licences issued by the Government Gold & Diamond Office (GGDO / Gold & Diamond Division of the NRA) can cost up to US$45,000 per year. A separate dealer's licence is required to buy rough diamonds. See the Guides → Export Licence page for details.
What is the export duty on gold and diamonds in Sierra Leone?
A 3% export duty is levied on the total assessed value of gold (and 3.03% on diamonds) under the Mines & Minerals Act 2009, paid to the National Revenue Authority via the Bank of Sierra Leone. The value is set by assay/valuation at the Precious Minerals Trading (PMT) directorate.
How do I verify a Sierra Leone gold exporter or licence?
Search the exporter's name or licence number in the Licence Check directory and open the record to confirm the licence type, status and validity. For a specific consignment, scan or enter the shipment code on Customs Verification — a genuine, tax-paid certificate shows the exporter, weight, value and duty; a forged one returns NO MATCH.
How does the QR shipment verification work?
Every certified shipment carries a signed QR code. A portal code lets you look up a transaction by its export or tax-payment reference; a printed shipment code opens that exact record directly. The code carries a security signature that can't be guessed or forged, so any altered certificate returns NO MATCH.
What is the gold export procedure in Sierra Leone?
In summary: give 24 hours' notice to PMT, present your export licence and bank statement, have the gold assayed and weighed before the exporter, Mines Monitoring Officer and Customs Officer, pay the 3% export duty, then receive a signed gold certificate vetted by the NMA and signed by the Minister of Mines. The full step-by-step is on the Guides page.
What is the Kimberley Process and does Sierra Leone require it?
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) certifies that rough diamonds are conflict-free. Sierra Leone only permits diamond exports to KPCS member countries, and every export carries a Kimberley Process Certificate issued after valuation. See Guides → Diamond procedures.
What does the AI document check do?
It screens uploaded deal documents (company registration, FCO, SPA, airway bill, proof of product, passport) for consistency and signs of manipulation or AI generation, returning an indicative risk score and flagging items for human forensic review. It is an aid to due diligence, not a final verdict.
Which countries does the portal cover?
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.
How do I report a gold scam?
Use Scams → Report a Scam. Reports enter a moderated queue; a named party is only published after corroborating evidence and a right of reply, so the list stays fair and credible.
Who are the licensed gold exporters in Sierra Leone?
The licensed gold and diamond exporters and dealers are listed on Sierra Leone's national minerals register. You can see the full, current shortlist — each with its licence code and status — on the Licensed Exporters page, and search all registered entities in the Licence Check directory.
How do I know if a gold exporter in Sierra Leone is licensed?
Look the company up by name or licence number on this portal. Each register record shows the licence type, licence code, status (active, expired, suspended) and location. If the company is not on the register, or its licence is not active, treat any offer with extreme caution and verify before paying.
Is Sierra Leone gold or "gold dust" legit?
Gold genuinely mined and exported from Sierra Leone is legitimate, but "gold dust" offered cheaply online is one of the most common scam formats. Real gold is tied to a licensed exporter, assayed and valued at the PMT directorate, and carries a 3% export duty paid to the NRA. If a seller can't be verified on the register and the shipment can't be verified as tax-paid, assume it is a scam.
What documents should a legitimate gold seller in Sierra Leone provide?
Expect a valid gold export licence, a tax-paid export/assay certificate from PMT showing weight, purity and value, proof of the 3% duty paid to the NRA, and (for diamonds) a Kimberley Process Certificate. You can screen these documents for signs of forgery with the Monitor Transaction tool and confirm the certificate on Customs Verification.
Can I buy gold directly from a miner in Sierra Leone?
Artisanal and small-scale miners are licensed to mine, but legal export must go through a licensed exporter and the PMT valuation and duty process. Buying "directly" outside that process is where most fraud and legal risk sits. Verify both the miner's and the exporter's licences on the register first.
What are the GGDO and NMA?
The Government Gold & Diamond Office (GGDO) — now the Gold & Diamond Division within the National Revenue Authority (NRA) — issues export licences and Kimberley Process certificates. The National Minerals Agency (NMA) maintains the minerals register and oversees licensing. This portal reproduces and verifies their public register data in one place.