By: Sylvanus Blake, PRO-ACC

The Chairman of the National Assets and Government Property Commission (NAGPC), David Panda Noah, and his Executive Secretary Victor V. Kamara have on Wednesday, 15th November 2023, paid a courtesy call on the leadership of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) at its Integrity House, Tower Hill, Freetown

Thanking the Deputy Commissioner, ACC Augustine Foday Ngobie, and team for hosting them at a short notice, Mr. Noah expressed profound appreciation to theleadershipp andmanagementt of the ACC for the support it continues to provide to the NAGPC as it continues to work on fulfilling its mandate. He furthered that since his appointment by His Excellency, Brigadier (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio, on the 9th of October, 2023, he has realized that the ACC and NAGPC have had a viable and mutually beneficial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). 

Mr. Panda Noah also stated that the NAGPC wants to identify and digitize all Government Assets and Properties, which will help in preventing the wanton siphoning and conversion of public and government assets by certain individuals. He said that the NAGPC Act of 1990 is old-fashioned, can not address adequately the ever increasing and dynamic issues around Government and public assets, and therefore, in need of urgent reforms.

‘’We continue to rely strongly on the very proactive, robust, and result-packed ACC for the much needed support. Working with the ACC has helped project the NAGPC as a better institution, and we are here to seek a furtherance of this already progressive and pragmatic partnership. We have to go after the stolen public assets, and we can only do so successfully with the support of a strong partner like you’’, David Panda Noah noted. He called on the ACC to help the NAGPC build a strong and effective integrity and work system that will help her deliver on its mandate.

Speaking to the team, the ACC’s Deputy Commissioner, Augustine Foday Ngobie on behalf of the Peoples’ Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., welcomed the team and assured them of the unflinching support of the ACC. He stated that the doors of the ACC’s Integrity House are always open to receive and relate with partners who come seeking to work with the ACC. ‘’I wish to thank you for taking this bold step. While some may choose not to, without reason, you have done the good and appropriate thing by coming to seek an advancement of our already thriving relationship. We applaud this and will use this opportunity to call on others to feel free to relate with us. Together, we can build our systems and make them resistant to corruption’’, the Deputy Commissioner averred.

He further stated that the ACC has the mandate to protect public properties and assets and will continue to work with the NAGPC to ensure the adequate and effective protection of all government and public assets. ‘’No one should convert or siphon public assets to their personal ownership. This is wrong and injurious to the nation, and it is an unpatriotic act. Such assets must be recovered, and those who play an active part must be fully held accountable. We can not afford to sit arms folded and allow our compatriots to take for themselves and their families the little assets that belong to all of us.’’

He pledged the Commission’s commitment and determination to work with the NAGPC and other MDAs towards the full actualization of our joint mandates. ‘’We will support you within the legal framework to fully retrieve all public assets. Be rest assured’’. The Deputy Commissioner concluded. 

In his contribution, the Executive Secretary, NAGPC, Victor V. Kamara stated that the ACC’s partnership with the NAGPC have given them the much needed clout, stature, and authority to recover, locate, register, and protect state and public assets. He called on persons who are unwittingly occupying state and public properties/houses to hand them over to the rightful authority immediately, adding that the NAGPC will ensure the total recovery of all public assets.

Also present at the meeting were the Coordinator of Operations ACC, Emmanuel K. Amara Esq., and the Director of Public Education and External Outreach Department ACC, Patrick Sandi, who also made meaningful contributions to the need and forms of possible partnerships and collaboration between the Commission and the NAGPC.

The meeting ended on a rejuvenated and renewed note of commitment from the leaderships of both institutions to fully recover all public and state assets that have been converted and diverted by persons for their personal gains.

(C) Public Relations Unit-ACC