vIn a Prestigious and Colourful ceremony at the Bintumani Hotel, in Freetown, on Friday night 1st November, 2024, the trailblazer Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. was Honored and Awarded for his meritorious and outstanding support to the development of the District and pointedly for his robust fight against corruption in the country.
Presenting the Award, the Most Rev. Bishop James Barnet stated that the great works of the ACC Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala and the Commission are tangible, as under his watch, Sierra Leone has made positive and unprecedented gains in domestic and international indexes and surveys relating to the fight against corruption, accountability integrity and transparency. The Bishop also highlighted the support the Commissioner has provided to the District.
Speaking to the ACC Media Team, after receiving the Award and his Facebook post, the Commissioner expressed delight and thanked the Bonthe Family for the Award which marks the third Consecutive (time) years and underscored that the Recognition manifests that Bonthonians occupy a special place in his heart.
He further assured "we will keep DELIVERING like the game just started."
Commissioner Kaifala further pledged his continued support to the District, especially in the elimination of corruption.
Francis Ben Kaifala Esq is an astute and erudite Lawyer, dangerously educated, result oriented evidence-driven, pragmatic, frank, fierce, firm, fair, affable, and a philanthropist par excellence. He is a Young Obama African Leaders Awardee, a Fullbright and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow.
As Commissioner of ACC, Francis Ben Kaifala's exceptional leadership and results have brought him multiple local and international awards and recognitions, including being honored by the Department of State of the United States of America as one of 12 “International Anti-corruption Champions” in 2021. He was also named in 2021 as one of the "100 Most Influential People of African Descent" by the UN/MIPAD Initiative and was awarded “Alumni of the Year – Achievement 2022” by the Centre for Commercial Law Studies at Queen Mary University of London, among dozens of other prestigious local and international awards and recognitions including the most recent by the Bonthe District Family.
The Commission extends its warmest congratulations to its Head/Leader for this spectacular laurel and accolade in recognition of his remarkable works and services to the People of Bonthe and Sierra Leone at large.
The ACC was represented at the ceremony by the Directors of Public Education and External Outreach and Intelligence and Investigations, Patrick Sandi and Evelyn Kuyateh respectively; the Deputy Director, Assets Declaration Unit, Edita Fofana and Assistant Maintenance Officer, Peter J. Smart.
The keynote address was delivered by Floyd Davies Esq., who is the immediate past Head of House of the Bonthe District Family.
The Bonthe District family seeks the welfare of its membership and ensures that development programs and initiatives are carried out in District.
The Dinner and Awards Night marked the 15th Anniversary of the Event.
The ceremony was graced by dignitaries from the District and other prominent persons, including, the Managing Director, Rokel Commercial Bank, Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin, Victor Biandoma Esq., the Company Secretary, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Susan Rogers, Deputy Commissioner-General Sierra Leone Land Commission.
Jonathan Hindolo Kurabu Esq., aka the Catalyst, served as the Master of Ceremony (MC).
At the ceremony also, AWARDS were given to the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency the President, Brigadier (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio and the Speaker of the Sierra Leone House of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas Esq.- in absentia.
