ACC AND NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AGENCY SIGN MOU TO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA) on Thursday, October 27, 2022 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) geared towards strengthening partnership and collaboration in the fight against corruption in the water sector.  The signing ceremony took place at the Conference Room of the ACC, 3 Gloucester Street, in Freetown.

In his statement, the Deputy Commissioner of ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie, welcomed the team from NWRMA, stating that the partnership is of utmost importance, as the ACC will use its authority to ensure control and transparent management of water resources in the country.  He added that water is very important for human existence and therefore mismanagement can pose a lot of challenges to service delivery.

The Deputy Commissioner noted that, the ACC has signed MoU with other institutions in the past to foster good relationship and to promote accountability and transparency in public service delivery. He encouraged the Agency to ensure the implementation of the Articles contained in the MoU. “You are now ambassadors in the fight against corruption, therefore it is now part of your responsibility to report on any suspected acts of corruption you come across when dealing with other institutions or members of the public,” he said. He assured the Agency of the Commission’s unwavering commitment to ensure transparency in the water sector.

Speaking at the event, the Director General of NWRMA, Junisa P. Bangali Esq, thanked the Deputy Commissioner for the warm welcome. He said the partnership will be of great benefit to NWRMA as it will help secure and manage water security. He commended the ACC for their zealous effort in the fight against corruption.

Mr. Bangali furthered that the mandate of NWRMA resonates with that of ACC in relation to protecting national resources. He assured the Commission of their support to ensuring that corruption is eliminated from water resources management.

The Director of Public Education and External Outreach Department, ACC, Patrick Sandi, who also served as the Chairman of the event, in his remarks, said the ACC recognises the importance of partnership with other institutions.  He encouraged the NWRMA to heighten their efforts in ensuring accountability and transparency in the management of water resources. 

According to the Citation of the MoU, read by the Assistant Information Officer, ACC, Amie Massaquoi, the ACC and MWRMA have agreed to undertake compliance activities mutually to contribute to the achievement of their common goal of ensuring public compliance with the law on water resources management.

NWRMA is a public institution established in 2017 by an Act of Parliament known as the National Water Resources Management Agency Act No. 5 of 2017 with broad mandates including but not limited to conservation, protection, control, development, and management of the water resources in Sierra Leone.

The signing of the MoU by the Deputy Commissioner of ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie and the Director-General of NWRMA, Junisa P. Bangali Esq., climaxed the event.