3. Page 3 T he Regional Manager of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) in the North - West Region, Madam Fatu Florence Kamara has, issued a stern warning against unscrupulous individuals who continue to unlawfully demand and extort monies from innocent and unsuspecting members of the public by falsely representing themselves as staff of the Commission. She made this warning on Wednesday 26th September, 2024 during preventive engagements with personnel of the Sierra Leone Police, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Sierra Leone Road Safety Corps at the Mange, Maforki, Lunsar, One Mile Checkpoints and the Gbere junction Police Station. The spate of impersonation of ACC staff particularly at checkpoints, public bodies and or schools during public examinations has been disturbingly alarming in recent times. It could be recalled that the ACC had in a press release dated 9th January 2019 informed the public on the continued impersonation of the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and other staff of the Commission by unknown persons. Speaking at the respective engagements, Regional Manager, Madam Fatu Florence Kamara said impersonation poses significant risk and reputational damage to the Commission. She pointed out that this deceitful act does not only create reputational damage but also compromises the integrity of staff of the Commission especially when the actions of perpetrators involve illegal or unethical behaviors. In recent times, she furthered, this unsavoury extortion has been increasingly alarming at checkpoints and public offices demanding monies and favours. Contd. on Pg 4 The PRO Amadu Russia Jalloh ® in warm handshake with ACC Regional Manager Kono, Hawanatu O. Kamara, (L) after making her statement. ACC team and Police at Rogbere Police Station after the engagement Manager Kamara emphasized that no ACC staff should ask for, or demand money, or favor from anyone in the performance of their duties and the public must demand and confirm an identification if approached by any person(s) purporting to be staff of the ACC. "Any act of extortion, demand, or blackmail should be reported to the ACC through its toll free lines - 077985985/077986986 or the nearest police station," she stressed. Informing public officers that the ACC has investigated and prosecuted impostors, the Regional Head warned anyone in this act as it constitutes an offence under Section 76 of the Anti - Corruption Act 2008 as amended in 2019 to a fine of not less than Thirty Thousand Leones or not less than three years jail term or to both such fine and prison term. She under- scored the significance of collabora- tion, reporting and a robust intelli- gence gathering mechanism to identify and clamp down on these perpetrators.

4. Page 4 Contd. from Pg 1 banning public officers from holding office for corruption, etc. Mr. Ngobie furthered that the independence of the ACC - SL can be seen in three critical areas including; Operational Independence, as it does not take directions and or instructions from any person or institution, including the prosecutorial independence that was granted it in 2008, allowing it to prosecute without recourse to the office of the Attorney General; Economic Independence, that allows the ACC to manage the finances allocated to it by the Government of Sierra Leone, and Administrative Independence, which allows the ACC to administer itself, including recruitments and all staff issues, etc. Deputy Commissioner Ngobie pledged Sierra Leone’s readiness to support Liberia’s Anti - Corruption Commission at all times to enhance its fight against corruption through experience sharing, partnership, and mutual cooperation. The ACC delegation that participated in the dialogue included the Deputy Commissioner, Coordinator of Operations, ACC, Emmanuel Koivaya Amara Esq, and Evelyn Kuyateh, ACC’s Director of Intelligence and Investigations. The dialogue is part of OHCHR’s Regional Program for Technical Cooperation, which seeks to foster stronger cooperation between human rights and anti - corruption institutions. The initiative focuses on exchanging best practices, laying the groundwork for future collaborations, and enhancing national and regional responses to corruption and human rights violations. holding public office has been slammed on them. There is clearly a price to pay for corruption, he emphasized. Responding to the anti - corruption messages, Acting Medical Superintendent, Dr. Masiray Kamara, thanked the ACC for the engagement and promised that the general staff of the MGH would work in consonance w ith best standards to serve the public. “The cardinal element in our work is to save lives and there is absolut ely no reason to shirk that for personal gain. The MGH Management has been solidly committed to the worthy service of t reating patients and saving lives despite challenges.” She averred. The young medical doctor added that the Management of the ho spital has held several meetings to improve on performance, and expressed willingness to work with the ACC, i n order to strengthen measures against corruption within the administration of the Hospital. In his remarks, the MGH Secretary, Mohamed Kebe thanked the ACC team for the engagement and stated that the Management of the hospital has begun work to develop a service charter and would request the support of the Commission shortly. Contd from Pg 2 Speaking also at the event, Christian Mukosa, OHCHR’s representative at the dialogue, expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Government of Liberia in promoting and defending the rights of persons and controlling cor- ruption. On the centrality of the relationship be- tween corruption and human rights abuses, Mr. Mukosa underscored that corruption, when left un- checked, deprives the people of their dignity, in- fringes on their God, and constitutional - given rights, and undermines the ability of state institutions to protect the rights of especially vulnerable persons. He highlighted the significance of sharing experiences and effective collaboration between anti - corruption and human rights bodies, within and beyond the Sub - Region aimed at promoting the fight against corruption and human rights violations. Present at the dialogue session and who made insightful statements were; Victor I. Lansana Esq, Vice Chairman, Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Liberia, Eddie S. Massally, and the UN Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Christine Umutoni. By: Sylvanus Blake, Public Relations Officer, ACC.

2. Page 2 I n its relentless effort to educate the public on the ill - effects of corruption and the merits of eradicating the scourge from the public and private sectors, the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) has implored core staff of Makeni Government Hospital (MGH) in a customized meeting to reinforce their anti - corruption measures in delivering service to the public. The educative engagement was organized by the Public Education and Outreach Unit of the Commission’s Northern Regional office in Makeni, and held on 19th September, 2024 at the MGH’s Conference Hall. It was necessitated by a spate of reports from the public about various forms of alleged improper official conduct such as extortion. Delivering the keynote anti - corruption message, Abdul Karim Bangura, Senior Public Education Officer, thanked the MGH Management for accepting ACC’s invitation to the meeting. He explained the Commission’s robust public education strategy to prevent and control corruption, and encouraged the health workers to actively participate in the meeting. Mr Bangura described corruption as an insidious scourge that can easily cripple public bodies if prompt, appropriate action is not taken in time. He said further that corruption in health service delivery exacerbates the plight of patients and could lead to a high rate of mortality. “Corruption is a threat to public health and wellbeing and, considering that health is wealth, I encourage you all to resolve and bravely confront unacceptable practices for quality service delivery,” he said. Among other things, integrity was identified in the course of the meeting as the most potent attribute to ward off corruption at all times. Mr Bangura, therefore, urged the MGH Management to maintain transparency and accountability with focus on placing service to the public over personal gain. This, he stressed, “is indicative of commitment to best practices, patriotism, and readiness to support the ACC deliver on its mandate to prevent, investigate, and prosecute corruption.' In his contribution, Aiah Sourie, ACC’s Senior Public Education Officer, disclosed that the ACC strongly believes in corruption prevention and is always ready to support public institutions guard against anomalies that could lead to litigation. According to Mr Sourie, the ACC supports government - owned institutions in several ways including examining their systems and processes, identifying weaknesses that could fester corruption, and suggesting recommendations to deal with possible threats. On this note, he encouraged the Management to revamp its Integrity Management Committee, a usually seven - man internal structure tasked to oversee best practices at the MGH. He further noted that the Commission, through its Prevention Department, would assist the MGH develop a service charter in compliance with policy and Anti - Corruption law. While encouraging the MGH staff to strengthen steps to repel corruption, Sourie informed them about consequences that a proven case of corruption would cause. By way of an update on an ACC press release dated 13 September 2024, he apprised the meeting of a 20% interest imposed on Alpha Brima Timbo and Clifford Bola Thomas, both staff of the Sierra Leone Immigration Department. The press release further detailed that Timbo and Thomas failed to make payment of NLE 30,000 they had received from five persons in respect of resident permits. Also, a three - year ban from Staff of the ACC and Hospital Management after the Engagement Contd. on Pg 4

1. 30th September—4th October 2024 Issue 2 Volume 37 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 the Liberian High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in collaboration with the Human Rights and Anti - Corruption Commissions of Sierra Leone and Liberia, aimed at strengthen- ing cross - border efforts in the fight against corruption and pro- mote and strengthen human rights, on the theme; ‘’Dialogue for Stronger National and Regional Collaboration for Enhanced Human Rights Advocacy and the Fight Against Corruption’’. Sharing the experiences of Sierra Leone’s progressive Anti - Corruption crusade and some of the reasons accounting for same, the Deputy Commissioner, ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie stated that Sierra Leone’s ACC is privileged with a historic practical paradigm of PRESIDENTIAL WILL which has bolstered up our crusade in the fight against corruption. Dilating on the importance of ‘’Political Will’’ in the fight against corruption, he stated that the country’s legal framework, (the Anti - Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019), which is one of the strongest in Africa, clearly provides for an independent ACC, with its core values of; Independence, Professionalism, T he Deputy Commissioner of the Anti - Corruption Commission, Sierra Leone (ACC - SL), Augustine Foday Ngobie on Wednesday, 25th September, 2024, emphasized to a gathering of Anti - Corruption and Human Rights operatives of Liberia and Sierra Leone in Monrovia, Liberia, ‘’that the political will to grant physical independence to anti - graft outfits is a car- dinal and unmistakable requirement in the fight against corruption if meaningful gains were to be made and sustained’’. He made these remarks at a dialogue session organized by the Office of ACC’s Deputy Commissioner. Augustine Foday Ngobie making his presentation Impartiality, and Coalition Building and Partnership. The ACC’s Deputy Chief commended the unflinching support from Sierra Leone’s President, His Excellency, Brig (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio in particular, the Government and the people of Sierra Leone by extension, as the Commission has over the period, successfully investigated and concluded high - profile cases including those involving senior government officials, probes into Parliament, the Office of the First Lady, recovery of an unprecedented amount of stolen wealth and other public assets, indictments, convictions, and in recent times By: Sylvanus Blake, Public Relations Officer, ACC. Coordinator of Operations, ACC, Emmanuel K. Amara Esq. and (R) Director, Intelligence and Investigations, ACC, Evelyn Kuyateh at the Dialogue session Contd. on Pg 4