4. Page 4 Contd. from Pg 1 Senior Monitoring and Compliance Officer, Moses A. Bangura, presented a detailed report w here he clearly explained some of the anomalies discovered during the monitoring process, some of which he said were not appropriate, especially for a functional school. In his concise submission, Ibrahim - Sorie Kamara - Kay, Head of Monitoring and Compliance Unit, Prevention Department, underscored that pursuant to the Anti - Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are given seven days to respond to the recommendations after the Report h as been presented. In her closing remarks, the Deputy Director of Education, Western Area Rural District M inistry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Nanah Bockarie, commended the ACC for its good work and timely int erventions in Sierra Leone. She further stated that schools will do their best to promote transparency and acc ountability in their operations. The meeting was climaxed by suggestions and contributions. By : Martina George, Communications Officer, ACC ACC and other stakeholders for attending their meeting. He continued that they have put cer tain measures in place as a responsible Association to ensure licences are paid and on time and to discourage illegal ranches and petty theft. The PRO also outlined the grievance mechanisms they have instituted between their host communities and farmers, stating that such mechanisms have fostered peaceful coexistence amongst them. He called on the Government to support them in improving their services as Kono District with over 400 ranches supply cows nationwide for consumption. The Chairman of Kono District Council, Augustine Dukunor Sheku told members of the Associat ion that there are lot of opportunities to benefit from the Government under the Feed Salone project. He said that the Governm ent does not provide support to one persn and therefore encouraged them to come together to form cooperatives. “Forming a cooperative will attract Donor and Government attention for aid,” he affirmed. An interactive question and answer session formed part of the engagement. Contd. from Pg 3

3. Page 3 T he Regional Manager of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) Kono Office has engaged and solicited the support of the Indigenous Livestock Rearers, Butchers and Traders Association in the fight against corruption in the District. This event took place at the Gbense Native Administration Hall on the 15 th September, 2024. Making her statement, Madam Hawanatu Omotayo Kamara explained the mandate of the Commission which is to prevent and suppress corruption in the country, and as the lead institution in fighting against the scourge, it can only succeed with the support of both formal and informal sectors. Highlighting the importance of livestock ranchers and butchers, the Regional Manager stated that livestock is an important component of the Government’s ‘Feed Salone’ project. Mrs. Kamara furthered that several produce can come from livestock such as milk, cheese, meat, butter, manure for plants, etc. adding that, it can lead to economic benefit if managed properly. Sierra Leone needs to shift to mechanised livestock production rather than the traditional way. This, according to the Manager, will lead to quality production, which will in turn enhance economic benefits. The Manager also informed the participants that Government encourages people who work with transparency and accountability and provide the enabling environment. She continued that the Ministry of Agriculture is a devolved sector in the council and provides oversight to the cattle ranchers. She urged the ranchers to be paying their licence fees to the required authorities and to discourage illegal ranch settlements. The Manager further stated that the livestock value chain is wide and its ranges from the transfer of the cows to consumption. Each, she says, has its financial obligations in the form of taxes to be paid. She said meeting such obligations will help the Government in the form of income to do road projects and other developmental activities. In her concluding statement, the Manager highlighted some of the gains of the Commission in the district, such as, but not limited to, the recovery of assets, indictments, recovery of project monies, etc. She added that the Commission cannot succeed in the fight against corruption without the support of all Sierra Leoneans. She encouraged them to act as whistleblowers and report any suspected acts of corruption in their communities to the Commission, admonishing them to resist, reject corruption and also cited the whistleblower policy for which the Commission will reward 10 percent to informants consequent upon a successful recovery. While making his statement, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Indigenous Livestock Rearears, Butchers and Traders Association Amadu Russia Jalloh thanked the Contd. on Pg 4 The PRO Amadu Russia Jalloh ® in warm handshake with ACC Regional Manager Kono, Hawanatu O. Kamara, (L) after making her statement. The Audience at the meeting

2. Page 2 T he Director of Public Education and External Outreach Department at the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC), Patrick Sandi, told Civil Society Organizations and Media Practitioners that the ACC and by extension Sierra Leone has taken deliberate steps to implement provisions in the International Anti - Corruption Instruments such as, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) and the ECOWAS Protocol on Corruption. He made this statement in an event organized by Transparency Internation - Sierra Leone in YACAN Conference Hall, 18 Settra Kroo Street, Off Krootown Road, Freetown, on the 19 th September, 2024. In his detailed and comprehensive presentation, Patrick Sandi highlighted key progress made in the implementation of the UNCAC, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the ECOWAS Protocol on Corruption. He gave a brief background to the establishment of the ACC, pursuant to the Anti - Corruption Act of 2000 which he further said was subsequently repealed and replaced by the 2008 Act. This establishment he continued, was also in sync with the UNCAC that Sierra Leone is a signatory to and has ratified and domesticated same. Mr. Sandi added that the Commission has adopted measures to protect whistleblowers, informants and witnesses relating to the fight against corruption. “The Commission has a Witness Protection Unit that handles matters that relate to whistle blowers and witnesses as provided for in Sections 81, 82 and 83 of the Anti - Corruption Act 2008 (as amended in 2019)” he furthered. Director further explained to the audience about the offences and punishments in the ACA with emphasis on the new offences, and the increase in fines from thirty thousand to fifty thousand Leones and jail term from three years to five years. He also elaborated on Laundering of the Proceeds of Corruption, Illicit Enrichment, Extradition, Confiscation and Seizure of the proceeds of corruption, Bank Secrecy, Access to Information among others. Stating the purpose of the event, Edward Koroma, the Acting Executive Director of Transparency International - Sierra Leone, said TI - Sierra Leone is implementing a project titled “Stopping Impunity for Corruption through Enhanced Accountability”. He highlighted the key objective of the project, which is to identify loopholes in the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone and come up with possible solutions to make the fight effective by reducing impunity. “One of the objectives of this project is to engage stakeholders to gather database which can be used to strengthen the fight against corruption and ensuring effective implementation of the Anti - Corruption laws” he averred. Transparency Internation Sierra Leone is a non - profit, non - governmental anti - corruption advocacy civil society organization aimed at promoting integrity, ethics and anti - corruption values for national development. TI - Sierra Leone is significant force in ensuring the country is free from corruption and its negative effects . The Director, Public Education and Outreach, ACC Patrick Sandi making his presentation The Engagement in progrss at the Director makes his presentation Group photo with CSOs and the Media after the presentation By: Amie Massaquoi, Information Officer, ACC

1. 23rd—27th September 2024 Issue 2 Volume 36 INTEGRITY HOUSE, TOWER HILL FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE EDITORIAL TEAM EDITOR - IN - CHIEF Abubakarr Turay EDITORS Sylvanus Blake Alex A. Bah LAYOUT & GRAPHICS Philippa M. Davies EDITORIAL ADVISERS Augustine Foday Ngobie Patrick Sandi Commission’s primary mandate to prevent, investigate and prosecute corrupt offenders and provide accurate information to the general public on the dangers of corruption in our society. Speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner, Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) Augustine Foday Ngobie, underscored that, it is the ACC’s responsibility to ask the assistance of the Sierra Leone Community Mission Schools to ensure that causes of corruption are identified in order to know ‘why we are suffering as a nation, especially in the Educational sector, ensure that these causes do not continue and how to get rid of them.’ He encouraged them to cooperate fully with the Prevention Department, by ensuring that they resolve T he Prevention Department of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) on 12 th September, 2024 presented a Review Report on the validation of corruption risk assessment in the Sierra Leone Community Mission Schools on the utilization of school fees subsidies. This event took place at the ACC Conference Room, Integrity House, Tower Hill, Freetown. The review exercise is in tandem with the ACC Deputy Commissioner, Augustine Foday Ngobie (middle) making a statement at the engagement all the recommendations proffered by the Commission. In his opening remarks, Director, Prevention Department, ACC, Rashid Turay, registered his disappointment over how most of the sampled schools do not have Board of Governors to supervise the subsidies allocated. He furthered that the Commission will give the Sierra Leone Community Mission Schools time to respond to the various recommendations as provided for in the Education Act. Director Turay also encouraged his audience to ensure that all documents relating to the use of the subsidies are made available and ready before the time suggested by the Commission elapses. By : Martina George, Communications Officer, ACC Nanah Bockarie Deputy Director, MBSSE - Western Area making input and closing remarks at the meeting The meeting in progress at Integrity House, Tower Hill, Freetown Group photo after the meeting Contd. on Pg 4