By: Bernard Abass Kargbo, Public Education Officer - ACC
The indigenous Team of Experts, contracted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to craft the 5th Generation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024-2028, led by the Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, (ACC), Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., on Thursday 1st August, 2024, held consultation with His Excellency Brig. (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio at State House, in Freetown.
The interactive meeting was in a bid for the team to sum up the consultation process and conclude the Strategy crafting, having held nationwide stakeholders consultations across the private and public sectors.
The consultation exercise with the President is necessitated by the Presidential Will manifested in strengthening and deepening the conversation and civic space in the fight against corruption.
Presenting the Team of Experts to the President, the ACC boss, underscored that, the team comprised well grounded Sierra Leoneans in diverse fields and have brought them together to craft the 5th Generation Strategy.
Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala furthered that the process of stakeholders' consultation will not end, until the Team hears from the President, listen to his thoughts in the fight since he has demonstrated unparalleled leadership and unwavering commitment to the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone.
In his submission, the Chairman of the team, Umaru Fofana intimated the President that, the session is really to listen and tap into his deep knowledge and insight into how the fight against corruption should be in the next five (5) years of the implementation of the NACS.
Responding, the President lauded the people of Sierra Leone for their acceptance of the fight against corruption. “It is very helpful that as a nation we have agreed to take this fight seriously” he added.
President Bio. also acknowledged that corruption is dynamic. “Corruption always tries to change its form. It mutates. Therefore, strategies employed to control it must be robust and dynamic”.
The President further attributed corruption to a living thing, which always finds new ways and patterns to navigate systems. He told his audience that the available punitive systems should be effectively applied and improved upon to tackle corruption's dynamic nature.
The President also likened corrupt persons to drug dealers, who know the risks associated with their trade but due to its lucrative nature still engage in it and try to navigate systems to get away with it. As such, the President emphasized that technology must be deployed and if properly utilized will eliminate human contacts, which will reduce corrupt practices considerably and also make corruption detection easy.
The Team of Experts also raised the issue of sustainability on the gains made in the fight against corruption after the President shall have left office.
Responding, the President noted that the fight against corruption always REQUIRES Presidential and Political Will from the person who will take after me and the person who will be appointed Commissioner of the ACC. The Two would have to work for the interest of the people of Sierra Leone and not for their selfish ends.
Concluding, the President urged the Team of Experts to meet with the Minister of Finance to get his views and thoughts regarding the late disbursement of subventions/allocations to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), a resounding concern raised during the stakeholders’ consultations across the country.
The valid point on the deployment of technology in the day to day affairs of MDAs was buttressed by Ibrahim Tommy Esq., who even furthered that it will be very remarkable for Sierra Leone when such action is legislated. In spite of its expensive nature it was agreed by the team that the use of technology in the fight will address half of the corruption issues, especially in revenue mobilising and generating public institutions.
It could be recalled that, sometime last year, the ACC put together a team of experts comprising eight (8) local consultants to craft the 5th Generation of the NACS. The team has Umaru Fofana as its Chairman, including other members namely; Madam Koloneh Sankoh, Valnora Edwin, Kebbe Koroma, Mohamed Abu Sesay, Ibrahim Tommy, Esq., Alfred Kamanda Esq., and Jonathan Kpakiwa.
It is expected that the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2024-2028 development will be concluded later this year which will be followed by its formal Launch and subsequent Implementation.
©️ Public Relations Unit, ACC
