The Regional Manager of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Kono, Hawanatu Omotayo Kamara, has encouraged newly recruited officers of the Tankoro Police Division to refrain from all forms of corruption and be professional in the discharge of their duties. She made this admonishment at their mustered parade at the Tankoro Police Division in Koidu City, Kono, on 9th March, 2023.
Mrs. Kamara underscored that, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has an important role to play when it relates to the maintenance of internal security of the State. She also noted that, the SLP’s mandate to police and guarantee security makes the police posts and stations frequented by members of the public, stating that, the daily crime reports made regardless, show huge trust in their work. She emphasized the need to maintain high level of integrity and transparency whilst discharging their duties; and that all reports or cases should be treated fairly and fearlessly at all times.
The Manager dilated on corruption offences as enshrined in the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019, namely; bribery, abuse of office and position, misappropriation of donor funds, among others. She stated that some members of the public cannot decipher offences that falls within the purview of the ACC, and cases that do not fall within its mandate.
She sternly cautioned the newly recruited officers that the police institution is not a place of bribery and other forms of corruption, stressing that, being a police officer entails a whole package filled with integrity, transparency and fairness. She therefore encouraged them to uphold their oath taken and ensure they make sound judgment, strong moral character, compassion, professionalism and objectivity.
Manager Kamara ended by encouraging her listeners to desist from corruption and any enterprise that may contravene the law, and urged them to resist, reject and report corrupt practices using the toll free lines of, 077985985 and 077986986. She further assured them of confidentiality and the protection of whistleblowers and witnesses as provided for by the Anti- Corruption Act of 2008, as amended.
Earlier, in his welcome address the Local Unit Commander (LUC), Alhaji Kelfala M. Bangura, expressed profound thanks and appreciation to the ACC officials for conveying anti-corruption messages to his officers in the district, especially the newly recruited ones.
He furthered that most of the warnings issued, are part of their codes of conduct for which police officers should abide. He acknowledged the strides made by the ACC and commended them for what he described as “the good work done in the fight against graft in the country”. LUC Bangura affirmed his support towards the fight against corruption and stated that the SLP as an institution is doing all it could to rid its operations of corruption. He also encouraged his colleagues to abstain from corrupt practices, and report any suspected acts of corruption to the ACC.
© PEOD Kono Office
