The Regional Manager of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the North-West Region, Al-Hassan Sesay has told Local authorities and residents of Pewulay Town in Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom to resist and reject corruption demands.
He made this statement during a sensitization meeting held on the 6th December, 2022, at the Community Centre in Pewulay Town.
Speaking at the meeting, Regional Manager Al-Hassan Sesay underscored the effects of corruption on the country's development trajectory as well as its debilitating consequences on sustainable livelihoods. He pointed out that leadership by example and the firm resolve at the top are prerequisites of defeating the malaise of corruption adding that instilling a culture of integrity and a sense of honesty and transparency creates an environment that is less prone to corruption.
Amidst the challenges in the fight against corruption, he called on all to support the fight as the risk of inaction is far worse. "To win this fight requires all of us to come on board," he emphasized.
He made a precise explanation of several corrupt practices across various sectors including the local court administration, the school system, the health sector, security including the Sierra Leone Police and other areas of concerns like donor driven projects implemented by Non-Governmental organizations in rural communities across the country and the Port Loko District Council. He said that public funds allocated for rural development are embezzled by corrupt public officials and in collusion with local authorities, depriving society of the much needed social services.
The Senior Public Education Officer
Samuel Junisa Sankoh spoke on the role of the community in the fight against
corruption and highlighted various methods of reporting corrupt practices to
the ACC. He also encouraged them to resist and reject demands of corruption.
Earlier in his welcome statement, the Town Chief Pa Adikalie Kamara expressed profound happiness to have ACC officials in his town and prayed for God's protection over every staff of the ACC. He urged his subjects to support the ACC and embrace the fight against graft.
Presentation of IEC materials and questions and answers session formed part of the engagement.
The meeting was chaired by ACC Public Education Officer, Mohamed Thullah.
