By Alpha Kamara

DAKAR, Senegal 

The selling of Sierra Leone’s second largest diamond on record since 1972, weighing 709.41 carats has been postponed Thursday after six bidders made offers below the accepted government price.

The bidding process held in the capital Freetown attracted government figures, diplomats and experts from the diamond consular council in Belgium.

“All six bidders did not meet the government's set price. We will fix another date for another International competitive bidding for the diamond. Even if it pushes us to host the next bidding process outside of the country, we will gladly do it," gpvernment spokesman Abdulai Bayraytay told Anadolu Agency.

The highest bidder in the auction offered $7,777,777.

Bayraytay said the gem, called the “transparent diamond”, will be used to rebrand the country after the blood diamond war and the Ebola scourge.