By:Mohamed Abdulai Kabba (Peo)
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Sierra Leone has intensified its efforts to combat corruption within Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) by conducting a timely sensitization meeting with management and staff of World Vision International (WVI).
The engagement which was held on 14th November, 2024 at the Mandela Hall, Dohas Hotel, Torwama Road in Bo City was primarily aimed at drawing the attention of WVI staff to the importance of integrity and the potential risks of misappropriating donor funds and property.
In his presentation, the ACC's Regional Manager, Momodu Sitter, outlined specific offenses and their corresponding penalties under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 (as amended in 2019), emphasizing that any person(s)found guilty of such offences is liable to both such fines and imprisonment of not less thanLe 50,000 or five years respectively. He further warned staff against engaging in corrupt practices and urged them to prioritize diligence, integrity and honesty in their work, noting that, World Vision International, as a responsible organization, has a duty to uphold the highest standards of accountability and transparency. By cooperating with the ACC and implementing robust internal controls will further strengthen its commitment to ethical practices and maximize the impact of donor funds, he furthered.
ACC's Public Education Officer,Mohamed A. Kabba, while highlighting various illegal practices that could undermine the successful implementation of donor-funded projects and programs, emphasized the importance of ethical conduct and transparency in handling public funds, adding that engaging with NGOs like the World Vision International (WVI), the ACC has repositioned itself to foster a culture of integrity and transparency within the humanitarian sector, stressing that, this approach is crucial to ensuring that donor funds are utilized effectively and responsibly.
Mr. Kabba cautioned that the demand of percentages from contractors and vendors, inflating the number of project beneficiaries, misuse of donor property, over invoicing, solicitation of bribes from beneficiaries, misuse of discretionary powers, duplication of names of beneficiaries, short payment of participants in workshops and seminars, falsification of receipts and diversion of donor funds/property for personal gains will undermine WVI’s priority areas, including child protection, education, economic empowerment, health and sanitation.
He further emphasized that the World Vision International is a beacon of hope and has been a steadfast partner in Sierra Leone's development journey, with a mission to create lasting change and addressing poverty alleviation and injustice, particularly among the vulnerable population in Sierra Leone.
Saffa Andrew Koroma, WVI's Senior Operations Manager, South, commended the ACC's sensitization efforts and urged colleagues to adhere to anti-corruption principles, affirming WVI's commitment to maintaining high standards of integrity and accountability. Mr. Koroma underscored that ACC’s engagement with World Vision is typical of an important public-private collaboration in combating corruption and to promote the welfare of citizens in Sierra Leone. By working togetherthese institutions can create a more just and equitable society for all Sierra Leoneans, he concluded.
The meeting ended with a questions and answers session, providing participants the opportunity to clarify their doubts and seek further guidance on the general operations of the Commission, using the free toll lines-8515, 077985985 or 077986986.
