By: Amie Massaquoi, Information Officer, ACC.
The leaderships of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI) have signed a landmark partnership agreement aimed at consolidating collaboration and information sharing and promoting transparency and accountability within Sierra Leone’s extractive industries. The signing ceremony held Thursday 20th November 2025, in the Commission’s conference room at its Integrity House, Tower Hill in Freetown, was witnessed by leaders and senior officials of both institutions as they reaffirmed their commitment to promoting accountability in the management of a sector central to the country’s economic growth and development.
Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of SLEITI, Mohamed B. Koroma, emphasized the importance of the partnership, noting that the partnership will significantly improve governance and accountability standards in the mining, oil, and gas sectors. He underscored that the extractive sector remains highly vulnerable to corruption due to significant financial stakes, complex value chains, and extensive state and non-state actors' involvement.
“We are proud to formalize this partnership,” he said. “Opaque processes, possible undue influences, conflicts of interest in licenses and contract awards, payment and reconciliation of taxes, levies, dues, and both social and cooperate liabilities, etc, pose serious threats to fair competition, resource governance, and public trust. The impact of corruption in the extractive sector is far-reaching. It leads to loss of public revenue, environmental degradation, and in many cases, fuels social conflicts. Working with the ACC strengthens our ability to identify gaps, enhance reporting mechanisms, and promote integrity and accountability across the sector”, he stated.
In his statement, the Deputy Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Augustine Foday-Ngobie welcomed the collaboration, describing it as both timely and significant. He noted that natural resources are the greatest asset Sierra Leone have to make a great country but was quick to note that Sierra Leone’s extractive sector has historically been vulnerable to corruption risks like many others. He highlighted the ACC’s ongoing efforts to close loopholes and combat corruption in the extractive sector.
“This collaboration provides a clear framework for cooperation between our institutions,” he said. “It will enhance transparency, solidify joint monitoring and other assessment activities between the ACC and SLEITE of the extractive sector, support investigations where necessary, and help hold to account public officials or private entities involved in acts of corruption. This partnership is about protecting our national interest and ensuring that the wealth of this country benefits all Sierra Leoneans. I assure you that we are committed to the full and frank implementation of the contents of the partnership and encourage you strongly to do the same” said the Deputy ACC Boss.
The ACC’s Coordinator of Operations, Patrick Sandi who also doubled as the chairman of the event in commending both institutions for taking such a proactive step toward strengthening accountability in and the management of the extractive sector, stated that the partnership could not have come at any better time. He encouraged around-the-clock engagements to ensure the objectives of the partnership agreement were attained and sustained.
The model of collaboration and cooperation which was cited by Joseph Mouijua from SLEITI, stated among others that the partnership will establish a unified platform for public education, including tailored community outreach and town hall meetings, provide training and explore methods by which EITI data can support ACC investigation.
The ceremony concluded with the signing of the document by the Deputy Commissioner of ACC and the National Coordinator, SLEITI, symbolizing a united front in the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone’s extractive industries arena.
