Reaching out to rural communities is a priority to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), not only to convey corruption prevention messages, but also to promote society’s moral values. As a result, the Southern Region Office of the ACC has empowered residents and chiefdom authorities of Ngalu Community, Nyallay Section, Bagbwe Chiefdom, Bo District, with anti-corruption messages at the town’s Native Court Barray on 23^rd September, 2022.     

Speaking at the meeting, ACC’s Southern Region Manager, Momodu Sittar, said the large turnout of residents and local authorities at the meeting is a demonstration of their interest to join forces with the ACC to weed corruption out of their community. He further encouraged them that such enthusiasm must not stop at listening to anti-corruption messages, but must be used to speak and act against corruption.

Mr. Sittar acknowledged the challenges public sector workers are confronted with in rural communities but cautioned that any attempt to use them as justification to participate in unlawful practices will face the full force of the law. He drew their attention to the Commission’s intervention to make corruption unfashionable through the amendment of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 by increasing the fines and prison term, introducing mandatory restitution for funds misappropriated, offence for academic malpractices and money recovered through out of court settlement now attracting an interest of not less than ten 10%. He said that despite the remarkable effort of the Commission, it can only be sustained with public support.     

In his statement, ACC’s Senior Public Education Officer, Abdulai Saccoh, said rural communities seem to be a safe haven to perpetrate illegal practices because most of them often choose to remain silent. He said that the destiny of the community is in their hands to decide whether to romance with corruption or disown it. He admonished local authorities not to use customs and tradition as a pretext to extort money from unsuspecting masses because such acts do not only undermine the peace and stability of the community but are also punishable by law.

Mr. Saccoh said that the enormous resources in rural communities can only positively impact the lives of people when concrete steps are taken to hold duty bearers accountable for their actions.

ACC’s Public Education Officer, Mohamed A. Kabba, said that the engagement is part of the Commission’s public awareness raising drive to shed light on some dishonest acts which have caused pain and misery on the lives of vulnerable people. He admonished the people not to offer anything of monetary value to a public officer for services that they are paid to provide. He assured residents that reports made through the toll free lines 077-985985 or 077-986986will remain confidential.