5th July 2021
NEWS ITEM
The North-West Regional Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has assured the people of Tonkoh Limba chiefdom of immense improvement in their lives if they join and support the fight against corrupt practices in the chiefdom.
This assurance was made at a sensitization meeting at Madina Town, Tonko Limba Chiefdom in Kambia District, wherein their hopes and aspirations of better life and standard of living was rekindled by ACC with call for collective efforts and determination to resist, reject and report corrupt practices.
The community meeting on Wednesday 30th June 2021 was part of ACCs public education drive aimed at educating and raising awareness in rural communities on corruption and its effects as well as soliciting public support.
Welcoming officials from the ACC, the Paramount Chief's representative who also doubles as the Local Court Chairman, Foday Sorie Kargbo heartily welcomed the ACC team and expressed profound thanks and appreciation to have ACC officials in his chiefdom and for taking anti-corruption messages to chiefdom level. He acknowledged the strides made by the ACC and commended them for the good work done in the fight against graft.
Explaining the purpose of the meeting, the Public Education Officer Mohamed Thullah said the community will be educated on the general work of the commission, the effects of corruption and the need for collaboration in winning the fight against corruption. He stated that corruption has permeated every aspect of society which has made public support as pivotal in addressing it. Mr Thullah made a comprehensible explanation of the three prong approach of public education, prevention and confrontation in combatting and addressing corruption prevalence in society.
Addressing local authorities and residents at the Madina Court Baray, the Regional Manager Al-Hassan Sesay thanked local authorities to accord them the opportunity to talk to residents of the Chiefdom and said the community meeting was undertaken to bring to light corruption prevalence in rural settings and to also solicit community support towards the fight against corruption. He informed them about the ACC Commissioner's visit to Kambia as part of his "Meet the People" tour which was to interact and get the views of the people on pertinent issues bordering on the fight against corruption. He pointed out that even though the Chiefdom has produced prominent people, the reality on ground do not resonate or give a representation on the development of the Chiefdom. He went on to state that tangible development and a better life will only be realized when the people own and support the fight against graft describing corruption as a common enemy to the development and transformation of the country.
He highlighted several corrupt practices across various sectors including the local court administration, the school system, the health sector and other areas of concerns of corruption vulnerabilities in communities. He pointed out several corruption demands in the aforementioned areas including but not limited to exploiting the people through extortionate demand and levying of exorbitant fines outsides the confines of the law, payment for bail and obtaining statement in Police Stations, illegal practice of "booking" at checkpoints, illegal charges in schools, corruption demands in health centres, and misuse of public funds among others.
Manager Sesay issued a stern warning to local authorities and residents to desist from corruption and involving in any corruption enterprise that contravenes the law. He encouraged them to resist, reject and report corruption always using the toll free lines of 077985985, 077986986 and 515. In reporting corruption, he said, confidentiality and the protection of complainants and witnesses is protected and guaranteed by the AC Act of 2008 and as amended in 2019.
Question and answer session and the presentation of ACCs Information Education and Communication materials formed part of the engagement.
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