2024

ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION OF SIERRA LEONE

An independent institution established for the prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of corruption, corrupt practices and to provide for other related matters. 

Contact us on: +23278832131 or info@anticorruption.gov.sl
Address:  Integrity House, Tower Hill, Freetown Sierra Leone, West Africa.

ACC SENSITIZES NMA STAFF IN BO ON THE DANGERS OF CORRUPTION IN THE MINING SECTOR

NEWS ITEM

In tandem with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) strategic approach to promote ethical values and enhance civil and public servants’ understanding of corruption and its undesirable consequences on the operations of public sector institutions, the Public Education Unit of the Commission’s Southern Region office has engaged employees of the National Minerals Agency (NMA).

Addressing NMA staff at the Agency’s Conference Hall in Bo on Friday 25th March, 2022, ACC’s Senior Public Education Officer, Abdulai Saccoh, said the engagement was a testament to ACC’s commitment to use multiple prong approaches to build integrity systems in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Mr. Saccoh reminded them of their fundamental responsibilities to promote the development of the minerals sector, implement mining policies and regulations and enforce compliance. He recognized that if only staff of NMA can insulate themselves against corruption then public trust would not be eroded.

 “Corruption impair how operations are monitored and regulated, undermines the collection of taxes and royalties, damages the relationship between the agency and the community, hampers economic development, and exacerbates inequality and environmental threats,” Mr. Saccoh said.

The Senior Public Education Officer explained a number of corruption offences as enshrined in the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 as amended in 2019 such as: offering, soliciting and accepting an advantage, conspiracy to commit corruption offence, gift, abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds/property, misappropriation of donor funds/property and abuse of office/position. He told his audience that, upon conviction for any of the offences, the court will impose a fine of not less than Fifty Million Leones or a jail term of not less than five years or suffer both fine and imprisonment.

The Regional Manager of NMA, Bo Office Allieu Kamara, said that integrity is one of the pillars upon which the foundation of their office is built. Mr. Kamara admitted that despite the temptation employees of NMA are exposed to, they have been able to exhibit high degree of sincerity and patriotism. He commended the ACC for its continued support in the area of conducting training for staff of the Agency and holding sensitization meetings. Mr. Kamara affirmed NMA’s commitment to working with the Commission to build on the gains already achieved and promised to institute anti-corruption safeguards at the workplace.

ACC’s Public Education Officer, Mohamed A. Kabba, described the engagement as a platform to sensitize staff of NMA on issues of corruption and enlist their support in the fight against the scourge. Mr. Kabba said that, amongst the reasons why public sector institutions are unproductive is the lack of transparency and accountability in the mobilization and management of public funds. He called on NMA staff to make conscious efforts towards the fight against corruption “because the wellbeing of citizens will only improve when corruption is tackled”. He therefore encouraged them to mainstream the anti-corruption values gained from the engagement.