The Regional Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission in North-West Region, Zainab Othman has called on the leadership of the Sierra Leone Airports Authority (SLAA) to strengthen its operations and to support the fight against corruption.
She made this call on Friday, 12th September 2025, during a familiarisation visit on the leadership and management of the SLAA at the New Freetown International Airports on Lungi.
Speaking at the meeting, Director Othman noted that the airports is one of the major gateways to Sierra Leone and public officers must be mindful of their activities and conduct as such will have a significant impact on the image and perception of the country. As we embark on the implementation of the 2024-2028 National Anti-Corruption Strategy, the Regional Head underscored the need for effective collaboration with institutions on the implementation of the strategy and to put to speed the Authority on their role in that regard and to heighten
knowledge on key corruption issues.
"With this strategy, the commission is poised to collaborating with SLAA in tackling corruption issues and processes, as well as ensuring that the airports operations are seamless," she emphasized. Madam Z. Othman informed senior management of the commencement of the monitoring of the implementation of the strategy and encouraged them to have a fully functional Integrity Management Committee that will help to internalize the fight against corruption and promote strong internal controls for efficient management of resources. Miss Othman also pointed out the significance of the Asset Declaration regime, the development of a gift register, and urged management to create the enabling environment for a fully functional IMC.
Public Education Officer Mohamed Thullah informed that they are public officers and, by extension, are covered by the ACC laws. He went on to explain key related offences including offering, soliciting and accepting advantage, misappropriation of public funds and property, abuse of office and position and influencing a public officer, receiving gifts for corrupt purpose among others.
Earlier explaining the purpose of the meeting, the Senior Public Education Officer Junisa Sankoh was to heighten public knowledge on various corruption issues and to foster sustainable partnerships with publ8c institutions for effective service delivery.
In response, the Deputy General Manager of the Sierra Leone Airports Authority Bobson Kargbo thanked for engaging management and expressed commitment to fully implement the strategy and to support the fight against corruption. He described the commisaions outreach to the Authority as laudable as such efforts will significantly guide employees and help to streamline anticorruption measures in their operations. Explaining to the ACC on the operations of the IMC, the focal person of the IMC, Mohamed Jabbie disclosed how far the committee has gone in fixing internal controls within the SLAA; copies of minutes of meetings and other related needed for the implementation of the new strategy.
