By: Patricia J. Sannoh-PEO- Kono District
The Public Education Officer of the Anti-Corruption Commission Regional Office in Kono Patricia J. Sannoh has urged girls, women, children, youth, non-governmental organizations, government stakeholders, and chiefdom authorities to join the fight against corruption in the district. She was speaking during the celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child organized by the Kono Children Educational Foundation (KONOCEF) at the Sessie Gbenda Hall in Koidu, Kono district on the 11th October, 2024.
As the guest speaker of the event, Ms. Sannoh expressed gratitude to the organizers of the event and further explained the mandate of the ACC, which is to lead the fight against corruption in the country. She highlighted some of the gains made by the Commission in the fight against the scourge, such as the very high rate of conviction, recovery of stolen assets and funds from corrupt officials, and the consecutive high score in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Scorecard ‘Control of Corruption’ Indicator in the last six years. She continued that Sierra Leone has also been ranked high in other global, regional and domestic transparency ratings.
Dilating on the importance of the theme for this year, which is ‘Girls Vision for the Future’, Ms Sannoh said that this year’s theme is to listen to girls and invest in proven solutions in accelerating progress towards a future in which every girl fulfills their potential. This, she said, cannot be achieved if societal ills like child abuse, early marriages, teenage pregnancy etc. are not properly tackled. She said the significance of the event is to deepen the awareness surrounding various sustainable development goals that are crucial for empowering girls.
This year’s theme, according to the Public Education Officer, is about raising the voices of girls and focusing on their aspirations for a better future; this, she said, can be achieved with the support of all and sundry. She therefore reminded stakeholders of their commitment to advancing the rights of girls and to take concrete steps towards creating an inclusive and equitable world where girls can reach their full potentials.
Ms Sannoh further lamented on the importance of girls in nation building and the future that lies ahead of them, and admonished pupils, principals and school authorities, to embrace integrity, transparency and accountability. She added that examination malpractice is an impediment to girl education and further expressed disappointment in the just-released WASSCE results wherein a good number of results were withheld primarily as a result of the high level of exams malpractices.
Ms. Sannoh concluded by saying that in order to secure the future of the girl child, the fight against corruption should also be prioritized; adding that it’s the more reason the Commission has been conducting ‘Meet the School’ campaigns and establishment of Integrity Clubs in schools. She said these activities are geared towards raising awareness on the dangers of corruption in schools and its effects on the socioeconomic development of the nation.
The Manager of KONOCEF Mr. Glenis Mani Ngaujah, thanked the guest speaker for her speech and for the gains made by the Commission. He added that the empowerment of girls is fundamental to sustaining a peaceful and just society.
The district head of the Ministry of Social Welfare in Kono, John A Smith, said that the Ministry has tremendously supported the empowerment of girls in the country, including supporting organisations that implement girls’ and children’s programmes. He called on all stakeholders to step up and help turn their visions and aspirations for children into reality.
