The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), in collaboration with the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), has concluded a significant awareness-raising drive on the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project in Northern Sierra Leone. The engagements, held to educate beneficiaries and community stakeholders on their roles and responsibilities in the project, took place in Kondembaia, Diang Chiefdom, Koinadugu District; Makrugbeh and Mapakie, Teneh Chiefdom, Tonkolili District; and Masuba, Gbanti Chiefdom, Bombali District, on the 25th, 26th, and 27th of November 2024, respectively.
Delivering the keynote address during the sessions, Abubakarr Turay, Deputy Director of Public Education and Outreach at the ACC, who led the team, urged participants to take ownership of the project and protect it from corruption. He emphasized that the PSSNYE project is not "a favor or gift from anyone" but a collaborative effort funded by the Government of Sierra Leone, the World Bank, and UNICEF to alleviate extreme poverty and create employment opportunities for youth. Highlighting the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) component of the project, overseen by the ACC, he assured participants of its zero-tolerance stance on corruption. He further encouraged the audience to report irregularities and share suggestions on how they could actively participate in the $42 million project. Mr. Turay provided toll-free Africell numbers of 077985985, 077986986, and 8515 as accessible channels for reporting corruption from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays.
Speaking at the engagements, Alhaji A.K. Bangura, ACC’s Senior Communications Officer, explained the detrimental effects of corruption, noting its potential to derail development efforts, drain resources, and worsen citizens’ socio-economic conditions. He stressed the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in ensuring the success of the PSSNYE project. Highlighting a recent success, he mentioned the ACC’s recovery of 34 billion Leones stolen by public officials, attributing the achievement to effective collaboration and reporting mechanisms. Mr. Bangura encouraged participants to use the available reporting channels to help the ACC continue its fight against corruption.
NaCSA’s Regional Coordinator for the North, Fatmata Fataba Babawo, provided insights into the PSSNYE project’s development, tracing its roots to the Social Safety Net (SSN) project, which focused on cash transfers to vulnerable groups. She explained that while the SSN project ended on June 30, 2023, the PSSNYE project commenced on June 1, 2024, with additional components such as digital cash transfers, youth employment, entrepreneurship, and public works. She commended the ACC’s oversight role and urged stakeholders to support the project to its conclusion.
The awareness drive, which included interactive question-and-answer sessions and the distribution of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials, concluded successfully. Participants expressed gratitude for the initiative and pledged to work collectively to ensure the project achieves its objectives. The ACC and NaCSA remain committed to fostering accountability and transparency, building confidence in the implementation of the PSSNYE project across Sierra Leone
