By: Alex A. Bah, Public Relations Assistant, ACC
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is hosting a two-day training on Asset Tracing and Recovery, organized by Restitution Impact, United Kingdom. The training which is held from 2nd to 3rd April, 2025, at the Conference Room, Integrity House, Tower Hill, Freetown, brought together participants from various Law Enforcement agencies, including the Law Officers’ Department, the Sierra Leone Police (Interpol, CID, TOCU, IIS), Financial Intelligence Agency, Center for Intelligence and Security Agency, the National Revenue Authority (Customs), and Civil Society Organizations.
In his opening statement, ACC Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., emphasized the high costs of such training programs, which institutional budgets do not always accommodate. He noted that partnerships with organizations like Restitution Impact help bridge this gap by providing expert-led training locally, thereby allowing more participants to benefit. “They can impart knowledge so you receive the same cutting-edge training and experience without having to travel,” he stated.
The Commissioner further stressed that while the fight against corruption may be spearheaded by one institution, it requires collaboration with multiple partners and stakeholders to be effective. He underscored that asset recovery is one of the most challenging yet crucial aspects of combating corruption, noting that the focus should not always be on court trials but on retrieving stolen resources. He commended Restitution Impact for enhancing skills in this critical area and urged participants to fully participate in the training.
Chris Duckett, Executive Director of Restitution Impact, highlighted the dual focus of the training, covering both the legal and investigative aspects of asset recovery. He emphasized the importance of filtering through vast amounts of information to identify key elements that facilitate the recovery of stolen public funds. “Often, we are overwhelmed by information, insights, and perspectives on asset recovery. What truly matters is ensuring that what has been stolen is returned to the national coffers,” he noted.
Tatiana Sainati, Partner at Wiley Rein, Washington D.C., USA, in her address, stressed that asset recovery plays a pivotal role in combating corruption by reclaiming misappropriated resources. She pointed out that legal compliance is critical in asset recovery investigations, as failure to adhere to legal standards could render the process ineffective.
This training is part of the ongoing capacity-building initiatives provided by Restitution Impact to strengthen the expertise of ACC staff, particularly investigators and prosecutors.
Earlier, ACC Deputy Commissioner, Augustine Foday Ngobie, urged participants to fully engage in the training, emphasizing the need for continuous learning to enhance asset recovery efforts. “The essence of this training is to focus on asset recovery and to continually prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead,” he added.
