By: Patrick Hinga George, ACC Public Education Officer
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Regional Office in Kenema, on Wednesday, 25th June 2025, engaged staff of the Provincial Secretary’s (PS) Office in a customised meeting aimed at fostering transparency and strengthening institutional accountability. The session, which was held at the PS Office Conference Room in Kenema, attracted senior administrative officers and support staff, offering a platform for dialogue, enlightenment, and recommitment to the national fight against corruption.
Delivering the keynote message, the Regional Director of ACC Eastern Region, Hawanatu O. Kamara, said the Commission’s visit was geared towards a strategic engagement to deepen public integrity and renew institutional understanding of the ACC’s operations. She noted that corruption continues to undermine national development efforts, and this meeting is part of ongoing efforts to bring key institutions closer to the strategic goals of the Commission. She emphasized that fighting corruption is not the responsibility of the ACC alone but requires a collective approach involving all public institutions.
Mrs Kamara further outlined the contents of the current National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), the Fifth Generation Strategy that was launched in December last year. She described the NACS as a national roadmap that outlines how Sierra Leoneans want the fight against corruption to proceed in the next four years. “This is not ACC’s mandate alone - it is your mandate, the people’s mandate,” she said. She called on the PS office to take ownership by setting up an Integrity Management Committee (IMC), holding regular integrity meetings, and reporting corruption when detected. “Use the strategy as a preventive tool, not a tool of fear or witch-hunt,” she advised.
Also making a presentation at the session was the Commission’s Public Education Officer, Patrick Hinga George, who stressed the urgent need for inter-institutional collaboration in the fight against corruption. He pointed out that corruption does not just rob the country of resources but robs citizens of trust, dignity, and hope. “We cannot win this fight in silos. “When we stand together, corruption falls apart,” Mr George declared.
The Public Education Officer also sensitized the audience on key anti-corruption offences, their corresponding legal implications, and the consequences for non-compliance. He highlighted common infractions such as misappropriation of public funds, abuse of office, and failure to declare assets. He reminded them that January 1st to March 31st, 2026 is the next Assets Declaration period, and urged all public officers to comply promptly. “Asset declaration is not just a legal requirement; it’s a moral obligation to transparency,” he stated.
ACC’s Prevention Officer, Abiebatu Abu-Mattia, emphasized that prevention remains the most cost-effective way to combat corruption. She noted that when public offices put robust internal systems and check in place, they eliminate many avenues through which corruption festers. “It costs far less to prevent corruption than to recover from it,” she asserted, encouraging the PS Office to see prevention as the frontline of integrity.
She also urged the PS Office to engage with the ACC through regular integrity reviews, technical support requests, and continuous feedback loops. Prevention, she maintained, is about building resilient systems, fostering ethical work culture, and empowering staff with the right tools and information. “Every Sierra Leonean must prioritize the fight against corruption and not for ACC’s sake, but for the nation’s future,” she concluded.
Earlier, while welcoming the team from ACC, the Provincial Secretary (PS) of the Eastern Region, Bai M. Thuary warmly received the ACC delegation, describing the session as timely and impactful. He expressed gratitude to the Commission for their proactive outreach and said that such engagements help clarify mandates and build bridges between institutions. “We are not strangers in this fight but allies working for the same nation,” he said
The PS recommended that the ACC advocate for the deployment of internal auditors within PS offices across the country, as he noted that such personnel would be instrumental in guiding financial decisions, spotting early signs of irregularities and ensuring public confidence. He concluded by pledging the commitment of the PS office in Kenema to support, adopt, and implement the NACS as a guide for institutional integrity.
