In a bid to strengthen public awareness on corruption, the Public Education and Outreach Department of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) North-West Regional Office on 5th November, 2024, held a sensitization session with officers of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) in Port Loko City.
Addressing the correctional officers at the detention facility, Regional Manager Fatu Florence Kamara highlighted the critical role that correctional services play in the criminal justice system and public safety. She emphasized that SLCS officers must be mindful of their unique role in upholding justice and combating corruption within their ranks.
Providing an overview of the offences outlined in the Anti-Corruption Act 2008, as amended in 2019, Manager Kamara explained that recent amendments have significantly strengthened the ACC, makinginvolement in corrupt activities a very high-risk and low return venture. She noted that fines and jail terms have been increased to not less than Fifty Thousand (New) Leones and not less than five years, or to both fine and imprisonment. Manager Kamara further elaborated on corruption-related offences, including misappropriation of public funds, conspiracy to commit a corruption offence, abuse of office and position, and influencing a public officer, as well as receiving or offering gifts for corrupt purposes. “You are expected to conduct yourselves with the highest standards of integrity,” she stressed.
In his remarks, the Manager of the Correctional Service, Port Loko, Chief Superintendent Kelfala Mansaray expressed appreciation to the ACC for educating their officers, describing the information as invaluable for guiding them in their roles. He reaffirmed the SLCS’s commitment to fighting corruption and requested continued public education from the ACC to bolster support their capacity. The Regional Commander of SLCS in the North-West Region, Chief Superintendent Sylvanus James, echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the session as a vital reinforcement of the ethical messages promoted by the Institution’s leadership.
ACC’s Public Education Officer, Mohamed Thullah, discussed the importance of ethics in the workplace, explaining that ethics regulate employee conduct and attitudes, and are essential for maintaining high standards. He urged the center’s leadership to implement strict monitoring and supervision mechanisms to prevent unethical behavior and ensure operational efficiency. Thullah also highlighted the ACC’s reporting channels and encouraged officers to stand firm against corruption.
The session ended with a question-and-answer session, allowing participants to engage directly with the ACC team.
