23rd October 2018

By: Junisa Sankoh

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday 22nd October, 2018 launched the Accountability Now Club (ANC) at the Obasanjo Skills Acquisition and Youth Transformation College in Newton, along the Waterloo-Masiaka Highway.

The ceremony was witnessed by hundreds of students and lecturers of the college.

ANC was one of the outreach strategies employed by the Special Court for Sierra Leone to target students in educational institutions. ACC took over the operations of the clubs as a strategic means to build partnerships and raise awareness on issues of corruption in tertiary institutions.

In his statement, Head of Public Education Unit at the ACC Michael Sesay underscored the need for the establishment of accountability clubs in tertiary Institutions, describing them as a means of grooming anti-corruption ambassadors as well as to impart in students the values of transparency, accountability and integrity.

Making reference to the Anti-Corruption Act 2008, Mr Sesay said that the ACC has the mandate to raise awareness on the evils of corruption, to enlist public support and educate the public on the benefits of a corrupt-free society.

He spoke on the need for coalition building and partnership, which he said are of paramount importance to the fight against corruption.  

Mr. Sesay said, civil society organisations, the media, educational institutions and MDAs have over the years partnered with the Commission in a bid to fight against corruption.

He admonished the students and lecturers to resist, reject and report corruption at all times.

Alhaji Sulaiman Fofanah, Principal of the college expressed appreciation to the ACC for the launch of the club at his institution.

The Principal said that, as a fully government-owned institution, the college is obligated to ensure the provision of quality skilled trainings for students. He pledged his institution’s support to the fight against corruption, and assured the ACC team of the college’s commitment to encouraging the activities and operations of the ANC on campus.

In his statement, Senior Public Education Officer ACC, Al-Hassan Sesay said, the Commission has always provided serious leadership in the anti-graft campaign alongside its partner organizations.

He therefore encouraged the students to be worthy partners in the anti-graft campaign by not only reporting corruption, but also promoting issues of integrity and accountability among colleagues.

Delivering the ANC charge, Junisa Sankoh, Public Education Officer ACC, appealed to the ANC membership to stand for integrity, promote accountability and transparency, and raise awareness on corruption issues.

Students of the college recited a thrilling poem titled “Corruption a Menace”; acted a skit on bribery and performed a song they composed titled “Zero Tolerance on Corruption”. 

ACC staff pose with students of the Obasanjo college after the launch.