By: Martina George, Communications Officer, ACC.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has engaged beneficiaries and other stakeholders of the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project in three areas in the eastern region of the country. The 42-million dollars project of the Government of Sierra Leone is funded by the World Bank and UNICEF and will run for a period of five years. The team from the ACC's Public Education and External Outreach Department conducted the sensitization assisted by the ACC's Eastern Regional Office in Kenema and Sub-Regional Office in Kono on the need for all stakeholders to uphold transparency and accountability in the project, report all suspected instances of alleged corruption and grievances to the ACC, and own up the various components of the project, which is being implemented for the socio-economic emancipation of poor and vulnerable beneficiaries across the implementation areas.

The three events were held in Shenge, Nemiyama chiefdom in Kono district, Maloma community, Nja chiefdom in the Kailahun district, and Serabu community in the Kenema district. The events, which were held on the 29th, 30th and 31st of July, 2024 respectively,   were meant to convey messages on the PSSNYE project and its Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) component, which the ACC is handling.

Some of the messages delivered by the team during the well-attended meetings were; the various components of the PSSNYE projejct, categories of expected beneficiaries and how beneficiary communities and households are selected, verified, and enrolled. The audiences were also informed about the expected benefits of the unconditional cash transfers and the other four components of the project, and the need for all to ensure a corrupt-free implementation of the project.

Speaking at the various engagements, Public Relations Officer of the ACC, Sylvanus Blake, spoke on the role of the ACC in the PSSNYE project and encouraged the community members to take advantage of the project by ensuring that they use the opportunities that are provided to improve their lives and livelihoods. He admonished beneficiaries to use the funds and skills provided to them judiciously to emancipate themselves from the ravaging effects of abject poverty.

“The Government of Sierra Leone and World Bank started the now concluded and very successful Social Safety Net (SSN) project with about 7 million dollars and concluded with over 50 million dollars. They kept allocating grants to the project because it was apparent that the funds were being utilized appropriately and for the intended purposes. There was no risk of corruption undermining the health and integrity of the project. We all did it,’’ he stated.

Mr Blake went on state that because of the success of the SSN, the PSSNYE started with an initial grant of 42 million dollars. “The PSSNYE project has now incorporated the aspect of Youth Employment and Employability, Economic Inclusion, including the Unconditional Cash Transfer components as some of its key components. I believe this project like the SSN will be implemented without corruption. To achieve this, you on the back end, have to ensure no one extorts from you or perpetrates corruption. You don’t get involved in any form of corruption either. The ACC will take prompt actions against any person who attempts to derail the smooth implementation of the project. It is ours to hold so dear, guard vigilantly, and ensure it succeeds. There is the likelihood for more funds to be provided so that many more people will benefit and come out of poverty,” he said.

Communications Officer, Martina George, encouraged the beneficiaries to ensure that they report any suspected corruption issues or grievances to the ACC by contacting the Commission’s deployed community and district monitors, calling the ACC toll-free lines of 077-985985, 077-986986, 8515, visiting the ACC Regional Offices to make complaints in person, or the use of the Commission’s website at www.anticorruption.gov.sl.

Miss George stated that the identity of all witnesses and informants is never disclosed and there are strong protections for all informants and witnesses, and also potential for rewards.“The success of the project and the overall development of this nation will only be achieved through the cooperation and participation of you all,” she said.

The events were climaxed by question and answer sessions; all of the questions were adequately responded to by Mr Blake.

© Public Relations Unit-ACC