The Public Education Unit of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), together with the Prevention and Prosecution Departments on Tuesday 13th February, 2024 engaged healthcare workers of Kingharman Maternal and Child Health Hospital on corruption risks in hospitals, and the necessity to uphold integrity and professional ethics in the workplace. The engagement took place at the hospital premises, at Kingharman Road, Freetown.
Welcoming the team from ACC, the Medical Superintendent, Amadu Bah acknowledged the Commission’s partnership role with the health sector, emphasizing how crucial this collaboration would bein the nation's development. He stated that the hospital administration is always open to the Commission for further collaboration and guidance so as to prevent any corrupt act.
Speaking at the engagement, Head, Public Education Unit ACC, Michael Sesay, said that the Commission felt it was appropriate to frequently interact with hospital staff in order to remind them of the risks of corruption in the hospital, how to avoid getting caught in the ACC's web, and to ask for their support in joining the fight. He also noted that this was done because some staff members have promoted to other areas and new staff had been recruited. He further disclosed that the ACC will swiftly initiate arrest and investigation of any hospital staff who decides to impede the advancement of the health sector through unscrupulous means.
Head of Policy and Ethics Unit, ACC, Musa Kanteh in his statement,underscored that, thePrevention Department of the Commission bears the same responsibility as the medical profession in terms of diagnosing health issues within the institution and providing necessary treatment. He stated that the vital role health professionals play in society should not be undermined by their own selfish interests noting, they should dress in the garment of integrity. They should always respect the rules and standards of their profession. He pleaded with them to set up Integrity Management Committee and a Service Charter, as these are anti-corruption initiatives that will foster the development of strong, capable teams that will produce high-quality results.
In his submission, Mohamed Lazizo Sesay Esq., Assistant Prosecutor ACC, began by characterizing the Commission as an entity empowered to bring legal action against a public officer or an individual accused of corruption. He enumerated a few corruption offences, including peddling influence, offering, soliciting, or accepting an advantage, abuse of office, abuse of position, conflict of interest, among others, as codified in the 2008 Anti-Corruption Act, as amended in 2019. “These offences carry a minimum Fifty Million (Old) Leones fine, or a minimum five-year prison term, or, both of these penalties. One corrupt act can result in multiple counts of charges,” he cautioned.
Yangie D. Sesay, Public Education Officer ACC, stated that as citizens of Sierra Leone,we should uphold the tenets of accountability, transparency and integrity in order to advance and improve it. She read out the reporting lines, 077-985-985 or 077-986-986, and pleaded with them to always resist, reject, and report suspected acts of corruption to the Commission.
