CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE CASE STUDY: SIERRA LEONE DIAMOND AND GOLD MINING

Abstract

The study is a quantitative survey study. The purposes of this study were as follows; 1) to study the responsibility of diamond and gold mining companies in Sierra Leone, 2) to study ethics of diamond and gold company concerning mining practice, and 3) to study accountability of diamond and gold mining companies. The sample consisted of 30 employees, 10 managers, 5CEOs, 10 department HR from diamond and gold company. The data collection tools were interview and questionnaire. The data were analyzed by mean, standard deviation and percentage. The findings indicated two separate aspects: one the issue related to the Sierra Leone government that the Sierra Leone government has insufficient laws, lacking of financial transparency, poor government supervision, two the issue related to the diamond and gold mining companies which was found that the companies had poor responsibility towards the local community where they did the mining nor accountability. They lacked of ethics in doing the business, finally they did not have accountability in supporting the community, especially those local people in mining area do not feel that they benefit from the proceeds of mining. Though the paper uses the experience of Sierra Leone, it can serve as a foundation to other mineral wealth countries especially of Sub-Saharan Africa.