The Regional Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Kono District has engaged officers of the Sefadu Correctional Centre on anti- corruption measures in the discharge of their duties. This meeting was held in the office of the Officer in Charge (OIC) at the Correctional Centre on Wednesday, 27th March, 2024.
In her opening remarks, the Regional Manager of the ACC Office in Kono, Hawanatu Omotayo Kamara, expressed gratitude to the leadership of the centre for accepting the ACC’s request to hold a customised meeting at a short notice. Mrs. Kamara informed the officers of the ACC’s fight against corruption in collaboration with government and non-governmental institutions in order to propagate the ill effects of the scourge on the country’s socio-economic development.
Corruption, according to the Manager, affects economic development and the equitable distribution of resources across the population, thereby increasing income inequalities, undermining the effectiveness of social welfare programmes, and ultimately resulting in lower levels of human development. This, in turn, may undermine long-term sustainable development, economic growth and equality, the Manager added.
Mrs. Kamara made reference to the decade-long civil war that led to the loss of lives and properties as a product of corruption. She said that corruption is widespread and endemic but the ACC is doing its utmost best to clamp down on perpetrators, thereby has no sacred cows. “One way of combating the spread of corruption is through prevention and soliciting support from the public to partner with the Commission to fight against this menace,” the Manager furthered
Mrs. Kamara continued that the Commission has various preventive methods in fighting corruption. One of them, she said, is engaging public officers and sensitizing them on the negative effects of corruption on the socio-economic development of the nation. She therefore issued stern warnings to officers involved in such acts to desist henceforth or face the wrath of the Commission. She concluded by pledging the ACC’s relentless effort in fighting against this menace at all times.
Speaking on the various offences in the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 (as amended in 2019), ACC’s Investigation Officer, Kono Office, Dauda Kaikai told the officers that the offences in the Act was passed and amended through the Parliament of Sierra Leone. He said that the Commission only deals with cases that are enshrined in the Act. The Investigator highlighted some of the offences in this piece of legislation such as, misappropriation of public and donor funds, conflict of interest, abuse of office, failing to declare asset, examination malpractice, bribery etc. He therefore encouraged them to desist from all forms of corruption and related crimes, adding that the Commission is only seen as an enemy by those that are involved in such horrendous activities.
ACC’s Public Education Officer in Kono Patricia J. Sannoh catalogued some of the gains made by the Commission such as the numerous national and international accolades and recognitions received over the years. She added that other African countries are emulating the ACC’s methods in fighting against corruption and therefore encouraged them to act as whistle-blowers to expose acts of corruption.
Explaining the different channels of reporting corruption to the ACC, the Public Educator enlightened the officers that they should report corruption through the toll free line of 077985985 /077986986, or in-person at the Commission’s Office 18 Sanssie Street in Koidu. “You can also write a letter and deliver it to any of our offices in Koidu, Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni, or Port Loko.
Earlier, the Officer in Charge of the Sefadu Correctional Centre, Bai Kargbo thanked the ACC for the detailed explanation on the work of the Commission. He added that such practice imbibed by the Commission is very important and has led to the success of the ACC in minimizing corruption nation-wide. The OIC continued that if the ACC has been established long before this time, the eleven years civil war would have been averted and that the country would now be ranked as one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. Corruption, according to Mr. Kargbo, should be the number one enemy of the State and that the citizens should rally behind the ACC to help fight against it, the Manager concluded.
