The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) wishes to remind all Public Officers that, pursuant to Section 119 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 as amended in 2019, they are required to declare their income, assets and liabilities by the deadline date of 31st March, 2024. Section 119 (1) provides that:
“Every public officer shall, within three months of becoming a public officer, deposit with the Commission a declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and thereafter in every two years that he is public officer, but not later than 31st March of that second year, deposit further declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and also while leaving office.”
The Public Officers required to declare their assets include:
a)Persons in elective offices; b) Persons appointed by the President; c) Public officers in grade 7 and above; and d) Public officers below grade 7 but with fiduciary (financial) responsibilities, such as bursars, etc.
The categories of teachers in Government and Government-assisted schools that are expected to declare their income, assets and liabilities during this declaration period (2024) are: Principals, Vice Principals, Head Teachers, Deputy Head Teachers and Bursars.
Similarly, newly appointed/elected (including Paramount Chiefs and Court Chairmen) and former Public Officers are required to declare their income, assets and liabilities to the Commission.
The ACC further reminds all Public Officers who lately declared in 2023 for the 2022 Declaration Year that they are also required to declare for the year 2024 within the deadline of 31st March, 2024.
ALL declarations should be done ONLINE through the Commission’s website, www.anticorruption.gov.sl OR assets.anticorruption.gov.sl. Ministries, Departments and Agencies are advised to create official emails for new registrants for registration on the Asset Registration Portal; whilst for those with existing login credentials (i.e. Username and Password) can login with same.
According to Section 122A (1), “A public officer who, without reasonable cause, fails to submit his Assets Declaration Form or knowingly records false, inaccurate, or misleading information in the Declaration Form shall, in addition to any other penalty imposed under this Act, be liable to administrative sanctions,…” including a directive to withhold their Salaries, Pension/Benefits, Suspension, Dismissal and/or Criminal Prosecution.
For further enquiries on this and other ACC matters, please contact Sylvanus Blake, Public Relations Officer, on +232-78-832131 or via email info@anticorruption.gov.sl.
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PATRICK SANDI
DIRECTOR, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
