By: Bernard Abass Kargbo, Public Education Officer, ACC
Introduction
Corruption in Sierra Leone is often discussed in terms of major scandals and political misconduct, but beneath those headline‑grabbing cases lies a quieter and more pervasive threat: petty corruption. These are the small, everyday exchanges of bribes, favors, and “tokens” that ordinary citizens encounter in their interactions with public institutions. From hospital wards to school offices, from police checkpoints to local council buildings, petty corruption quietly drains the resources, dignity, and opportunities of the people who can least afford it. Although the Anti‑Corruption Act of 2008, as amended in 2019, clearly prohibits public officials from soliciting or accepting unlawful advantages, the practice has become so normalized that many citizens now see it as an unavoidable part of daily life.
What Is Petty Corruption?
According to Transparency International (TI) Petty corruption refers to the “everyday abuse of power by public officials in their interactions with ordinary citizens, who often are trying to access basic goods or services in places like hospitals, schools, police departments, and other agencies.” It is often dismissed as insignificant because it involves small sums of money, but its impact is anything but small. A receptionist who smiles more warmly at the client who slips her a tip, or a nurse who prioritizes the patient offering the biggest “gift,” may not make national news, yet these actions inflict deep harm. For families already struggling to afford food, school fees, or basic healthcare, these unofficial payments force painful choices. Money meant for essential needs is diverted to satisfy demands that should never exist in the first place. In this way, petty corruption becomes a daily tax on the poor, widening inequality and eroding trust in public institutions.
Everyday Struggles and Where It Hurts Most
The effects of petty corruption are most visible in the healthcare sector, where patients frequently report being asked to pay for services that should be free. Some are charged for admission into wards, others for medication supplied under government programs, and many for faster or preferential treatment. In some troubling cases, nurses at a pediatric clinic have misappropriated free healthcare drugs, leading to shortages that contribute to preventable child deaths. The economic cost of such actions cannot be measured only in money; it is reflected in the suffering of families who lose loved ones because they could not afford an unofficial fee.
Education is another area deeply affected. Parents often face unofficial charges for enrollment, exam access, or even the release of grades/report cards. In some schools, students who cannot pay these informal fees are quietly sidelined or denied opportunities. Cases of school administrators misappropriating school subsidies in various districts of the country revealed that funds intended for the Free Quality Education (FQE) program were diverted to private projects, leaving schools under-resourced and children underserved. When corruption infiltrates the classroom, it robs young people of the fair start they deserve and undermines the country’s long-term development.
A more troubling trend now is that law enforcement also suffers from widespread petty corruption. Police officers are frequently cited for demanding bribes during traffic stops or accepting payments to avoid arrest. The selective enforcement of petty offenses such as loitering or public nuisance disproportionately targets the poor, who are less able to pay and more vulnerable to harassment.
Another area where petty corruption hurts is at the local government structures, which are also not immune to this menace. Across several councils, corruption manifests through the misuse of development funds, delayed or abandoned projects, and poor transparency in budgeting. A review of some district councils revealed widespread inefficiencies and misallocation of resources, stifling development and weakening public confidence. When funds meant for roads, water systems, or community facilities are diverted, entire communities suffer the consequences.
These are a few notable areas, which do not preclude the fact that petty corruption is now prevalent in all sectors of the governance system, which in turn places a heavy burden on ordinary citizens who are now forced to pay an extra fee for accessing facilities that will cost them lesser had it not been for the extra petty corruption charges levied on them by people who are supposed to serve them.
Impact on Livelihoods
The impact of petty corruption extends far beyond financial loss. It reduces access to essential services, increases vulnerability among the poor, and erodes trust in institutions meant to protect and serve the public. For many families, it means choosing between paying a bribe and feeding their children. Over time, these daily injustices create a sense of powerlessness and frustration, weakening the social fabric and undermining national progress. Petty corruption may seem small in scale, but its cumulative effect is enormous, touching nearly every aspect of daily life.
Efforts to Address Petty Corruption
Sierra Leone has taken important steps to address corruption, including legal reforms, institutional strengthening, and public education. The Anti‑Corruption Act has been expanded to cover both public and private sectors, and the establishment of the Special Anti‑Corruption Court in 2019 has helped fast‑track cases. Public officials are now required to declare their assets biannually, with compliance reaching 96% in 2024. Integrity Management Committees (IMCs) have been set up in more than 80 Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDA), and local councils to monitor internal compliance and promote ethical behavior. The Anti‑Corruption Commission also conducts community outreach, media engagement, and school programs to raise awareness and encourage reporting.
Conclusion
Despite these efforts by the Commission, petty corruption remains deeply rooted, partly because it is tied to broader social and economic challenges. Many low-level officials are poorly paid, and some justify their actions as a way to supplement their income. Citizens, too, sometimes participate in the system because they believe it is the only way to get things done quickly. Breaking this cycle requires not only strong laws but also cultural change, improved service delivery, and greater accountability at all levels.
Civil society organizations such as AdvocAid and the Centre for Accountability and the Rule of Law continue to push for reforms aligned with international human rights standards, and their work remains essential.
Petty corruption may seem small, but its consequences are profound. It steals from the poor, undermines public trust, and slows national development. Addressing it requires collective commitment from government, public and private institutions, and citizens to build a society where fairness, integrity, and justice are everyday realities. Curbing petty corruption, therefore, requires not only legal reforms but also broader social and institutional changes that reduce opportunities for abuse and strengthen fairness in public service delivery.
