The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Kenema Regional Office on the 22nd October 2025, held a meeting with staff of the Immigration Department in Kenema, focusing on the need for collective commitment, ethical conduct and compliance, and institutional integrity in the fight against corruption.
Delivering a statement, ACC’s Senior Public Education Officer, Edward N. Blake, stressed the need to reinforce partnership with the Immigration Department in the national fight against corruption, while enlightening them on the offences and corresponding punishment outlined in the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 as amended in 2019.
Mr. Blake elaborated on key corruption offences, including Misappropriation of Public Funds and Property, Abuse of Office, Abuse of Position, Conspiracy to Commit a Corruption Offence, Unexplained Wealth and Corrupt Acquisition of Wealth among others.
He also cautioned officers to maintain transparency and accountability in all their dealings, especially at border posts, which he described as high-risk zones for corruption vulnerabilities. He further advised the staff to establish a Gift Register as a proactive accountability tool that enhances institutional transparency and compliance.
Mr. Blake also reminded them about the next Assets Declaration period which runs from the 1st January to 31st March 2026 and urged all eligible public officers to make timely declarations of their assets, income and liabilities as mandated by law.
ACC’s Public Education Officer, Patrick Hinga George, said that corruption remains a national enemy that undermines national development and threatens peace and stability. He noted that the devastating eleven-year civil war was partly rooted in corrupt practices that eroded public trust and deepened social inequalities.
Mr. George pointed out that the ACC’s current approach to combating corruption is anchored on prevention which involves instituting anti-corruption measures in the public and private sectors. He explained that while enforcement remains vital, the Commission places significant emphasis on public education as another potent means of preventing corruption.
“A society that is aware of the dangers of corruption and empowered to resist it,” he said, “is the strongest asset in our national integrity system.” He further reminded participants that Immigration officers, as frontline representatives of the state, carry an enormous responsibility to uphold the nation’s reputation through honesty, fairness and professionalism in service delivery.
Regional Head of the Immigration Department, Francis P. Kamara, expressed profound appreciation to the ACC for what he described as a timely and impactful engagement. He acknowledged the critical role of the ACC in building a transparent and accountable public sector and pledged the department’s unwavering commitment to the anti-corruption campaign.
Mr. Kamara also assured the ACC that his department would implement key recommendations shared during the engagement, including the introduction of an internal compliance mechanism and continuous staff sensitization on ethics and integrity.
The customized meeting is part of the ACC’s broader strategy to foster institutional collaboration, strengthen preventive systems and enhance compliance with the country’s anti-corruption laws. Through such engagements, the Commission continues to demonstrate its steadfast commitment to building a transparent, accountable and corruption-free Sierra Leone.
