The Senior Investigation Officer of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the North-West Region, Bernard Dixon has urged sand miners and boat owners of the Port Loko Wharf to own the fight and report corruption incidences in their various localities.
The customized meeting held on Tuesday 8th October 2024 was convened as a way of publicizing and increasing public knowledge about the nature, occurrence, and seriousness of corrupt behavior and its prevalence in rural communities as well as soliciting public support in combating graft.
Making his statement, the Senior Investigation Officer Bernard Dixon recognized the role of the informal sector in the development of the State and described them as key partners that are critical to the achievement of the development aspirations of the country. He stated that corruption in the informal sector and in rural communities has a devastating impact on sustainable livelihoods and undermines economic development, noting that, the provision of wide range of services such as healthcare, education, water and sanitation and many other services provided by Government and its development partners for the benefit of citizens has been hugely undermined by the sustained presence of corruption. With these challenges, he furthered, fighting corruption is multifaceted and requires strong synergy among all sectors and urged them to embrace the fight against graft and to report incidences of corruption in their various communities. "Make your voices heard, stand up against the corrupt and report corrupt practices in your various localities," he emphasized.
As part of their involvement in combatting graft, Investigator Dixon underscored the significance of monitoring community development projects and should have a way of providing meaningful input into project. Pointing key corruption issues in education, health, the Police, local court administration among others, he encouraged them to make corruption reporting a way of life through ACC's toll free lines 077-986-986/077-985-985 or its Regional Office at 13 Sheriffa Street in Port Loko City. He informed them that the ACC has an effective complaints and whistleblowing protection mechanisms that encourage citizens to report corrupt practices without fear.
The Senior Public Education Officer Samuel Junisa Sankoh spoke on the role of the respective memberships in the fight against corruption and highlighted various methods of reporting corrupt practices to the ACC as well as the approaches in the fight against graft.
The Chairman of the Sand Miners at the Port Loko Wharf, Morison Alimas Conteh thanked the ACC for educating and engaging their membership on various issues on corruption. . He assured of their support to the Commission and to make meaningful contribution to supporting the fight particularly in the fight.
