3. Page 3 T he Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) has stated in a public notice that, pursuant to Section 119(4) of the Anti - Corruption Act 2008 (as amended in 2019), the Commissioner has extended the declaration period of assets, income and liabilities with the Commission to, on or before the 30 th April, 2024, as the 31 st March, 2024 statutory deadline for submission of Asset Declaration Forms, has elapsed. The Commission says that pursuant to Section 119(1) of the Anti - Corruption Act 2008 (as Amended in 2019) all public officers who are to declare their assets and those persons who have failed to do s o are now in default. Section 119(1) states as follows: “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 31 st March of that second year, deposit further declaration of his income, assets and liabiliti es and also while leaving office.” Furthermore, Section 122A(1) of the said Amendment provides that “A public officer who, wit hout reasonable cause, fails to submit his/her 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 as set out in sub - section (5) as follows:  Withholding the salary of the Public Officer,  Suspend the Public Officer after one month of default but not more than three months; and  Dismiss the Public Officer after exceeding three months (This does not apply to onl y Positions for which removal from office is stipulated in the Constitution but applies to all). Against this background, the Commission informs ALL public officers that have not yet submitted their Asset Declaration Forms with the Commission to make good use of t his extension. According to the Commission, beyond the said date, default by public officers will be t reated as deliberate and defaulters will face the applicable appropriate penalties as prescribed by law above. It encourages anyone who has specific challenges to promptly notify the Commission for speedy remedy.

4. Page 4 " T he Commission's initiative to popularize the contents in these reports in the regions is a commendable endeavor in the fight against corruption.” These were the remarks of participants who represented their Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) during the popularization of the contents of the three systems review report on National Fire Force, National Telecommunications Authority and the Ministry of Water Resources. The three engagements which were sponsored by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) took place on March 26, 27, and 28, 2024, at the Senior District Officer's Office in Makeni, the Tonkolili District Council Hall in Magburaka, and the Dr. Francis Moses Multi - Purpose Hall at the Primary Health Care Complex in Kabala, respectively. Representatives from the various regions at the engagements acknowledged that they had never seen such documents before, and the findings and recommendations in the three reports are unquestionably beneficial in addressing MDA systems flaws. As a result, they asked that a pock- et book containing the findings and recommendations in these documents be produced and distributed across the country. In their closing remarks, they praised the Prevention Department and the Commission for a job well done. According to Michael Sesay, Head of the ACC's Public Education Unit, the findings and recommendations in the three reports, are in line with the Commission's mandate as stated in Sec- tion (7)(2fgh) of the Anti - Corruption Act, 2008 as amended in 2019. “The Commission is mandated to examine practices and procedures in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in order to identify systemic weaknesses and opportunities for corruption and to provide recommendations to address those weaknesses and opportunities.” He pointed out that nearly all MDAs are affected by the majority of the issues raised in the reports, which include staffing, procurement, audit, fleet, fuel management, and more. He urged MDAs to devote more time to putting the Commission's recommendations into practice in order to better serve the public and stay out of default without incurring penalties. ACC’s Public Education Officer, Yangie D. Sesay explained that the operations of the Prevention Department hinge on three units: the Systems and Processes Review Unit, the Policy and Ethics Unit, and the Monitoring and Compliance Unit. Ms. Sesay furthered that the units complement each other as they work to establish improved procedures and guidelines that direct the operations of MDAs. As a result,the documents' popularization is essential since public officials need to be aware and informed of the findings and recommendations in order for them to be properly implemented across the country, she underscored. She pointed out that the reports had previously been given to the Heads of the various institutions in Freetown for onward distribution. “ The final report is never printed until the Commission makes sure that the institution receives draft copyand validates same. The head should presumably tell other employees including those in the regions about the contents of the document” Yangie added. Senior Public Education Officer, ACC in Makeni, Aiah Sourie, earlier welcomed the attendees to the events and thanked them for their patience. He declared that the battle against corruption is not a solo endeavour but rather demands the collective strength of all, urging them to embrace the engagement as their own. By : Yangie D. Sesay, Public Education Officer, ACC. Head of ACC’s Public Education Unit, Michael Sesay discussing the contents of the reports in Magburaka. Representatives of MDAs in Makeni receiving the message with keen attention .

2. Page 2 T he Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) has en- gaged the leaderships of all stakeholders at the country’s immigration and border points following an on - the - spot monitoring of the three main border points in the country. The stakeholders engaged in- clude the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Immigration Department, Sierra Leone Police (SLP), Integrated Trade Services, National Minerals Agencies (NMA), among others. The engagement took place on the 27 th March, 2024 at the ACC’s Integrity House, Tower Hill in Freetown. Between the 14 th and 19 th March, 2024, the Corruption Prevention Department of the Commission undertook an on - the - spot monitoring exercise of the three main border posts of Gbalamuya, Jendema and Freetown International Airport, to observe and assess the operations of key stakeholders. The Department says certain weaknesses that have the tendency to create corruption opportunities were observed in all the border points. The Deputy Commissioner of the ACC, Augustine Fo- day Ngobie, in his statement, emphasized how peo- ple sometimes misconstrue the work of the ACC with that of the police. “The ACC has the core functions of eradicating and minimizing corruption, preventing the re - occurrence of corruption in public offices, educating the masses on the ills of corruption and eliciting help to minimize the scourge.” He added that the Commission can also investigate and prosecute cases of corruption. He encouraged the stakeholders to join forces with the ACC by implementing the recommendations proffered. Director of the Prevention Department, ACC, Rashid Tu- ray, said that the overall aim of the monitoring exercise was for personnel to conform to the effective implementation of policies and procedures meant to ensure smooth operations of the border posts and as a proactive measure to prevent the occurrence of corruption. “During the on - the - spot monitoring exercise, we observed, among many other things, that there were over 100 illegal crossing points in Kambia. We also found out that the source document used by the Integrated Trade Service (ITS) SL Ltd to generate the 1% fee lacks security features, thereby exposing to corruption large amount of cash payments received by NRA/Customs officials in Jendema,” Mr. Turay furthered. The meeting was climaxed with statements, comments and questions from stakeholders, including a suggestion made by James Cooper, Deputy Assistant Director of the Sierra Leone Immigration Department, for the conduct of training for officials working at the border posts. There were deliberation on the findings and recommendations, and one of the resolutions was for the recommendations to be acted upon by the ACC and stakeholders involved to improve on the delivery of services at the border points. Deputy Commissioner of ACC, Au- gustine Foday Ngobie Martina George, Communications Officer, ACC Director of the Prevention Department, ACC, Rashid Turay During the engagement

1. 15th—19th April 2024 Issue 2 Volume 13 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 and Recovery of Corrupt Proceeds and Money Laundering; Exhibit Management and Proceeds of Crime Tracing; Investigative Skills and Investigative Interviewing Skills.” Before joining the Commission, he served the Sierra Leone Police in many capacities from 1990 to 2002, where he attained the position of Deputy Head of the Inspectorate and Compliance Division. Mr. Ngobie retired as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). Mr. Ngobie is a Certified Fraud Examiner and has a wealth of experience in investigations and administration. He was also a part - time lecturer at the University of Makeni (UNIMAK). I n a press release dated 8 th April, 2024, the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) has informed the general public that His Excellency Brig. (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio has on 5th April, 2024, re - appointed Augustine Foday Ngobie as Deputy Commissioner of the Commission, for a final 5 - year term with effect from 10 th April, 2024. Reacting to his appointment, Mr. Ngobie said: “I have always held the firm belief that the fight against corruption requires collaborative efforts, and I will continue to work with Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., the Management and Staff of the Commission and all Partners in both the Public and Private Sectors, for us to continue to make the remarkable gains we have made as a nation.” He expressed his heartfelt thanks and appreciation to President Bio for the faith and confidence reposed in him for the re - appointment. Mr. Ngobie holds a Bachelor of Science in Education (Major Economics) Degree, from the University of Sierra Leone. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Njala University. Before his appointment in 2019, Mr. Ngobie was Deputy Director of Intelligence and Investigations at the Commission and had held several other positions since he joined the Commission in 2003. He has undergone several professional trainings such as; “Tracing The Re - appointed Deputy Commissioner, Augustine Foday Ngobie Contd on pg 4