Section 26: No mineral right shall be granted to-

(a) an individual who- (i) is under the age of 18 years; (ii) is not a citizen of Sierra Leone or has not been ordinarily resident in Sierra Leone for a period of ten years immediately preceding his application for a mineral right; (iii) is an un-discharged bankrupt, having been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt under any written law, or enters into any arrangement or scheme of composition with his creditors; or (iv) has been convicted of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty; (b) a co-operative society which is not registered in accordance with the laws of Sierra Leone; (c) a body corporate- (i) which is not registered or incorporated under under the Companies Act; or 20 21 Types of Restrictions on grant of Form content Power of the Minister to authorised investigations. Acquisition of mineral rights by public tender. Act No. 3 of 2009 (ii) which is in liquidation other than a liquidation which forms part of a scheme for the reconstruction or amalgamation of such body corporate; (iii) in respect of which an order has been made by a court of competent jurisdiction for its winding up or dissolution; (iv) which has made a composition or arrangement with its creditors; (v) which has among its shareholders any shareholder who holds at least a ten percent share of the company or a director, who would be disqualified in terms of subparagraphs (i) or (iv) of paragraph (a).