Start writing here...By Aiah Pengusa Momodu Sourie
Senior Public Education Officer, ACC
The proverbial statement “A stitch in time saves nine” may have faded from everyday speech, but its practical wisdom remains vital in preventing social ills such as corruption. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Sierra Leone recognises this preventive principle. While it continues to investigate and prosecute corrupt acts, it also places strong emphasis on prevention. One of its key strategies — alongside reviewing institutional systems, leading the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2024–2028), enforcing the declaration of assets, income and liabilities, and supporting the development of Service Charters — is the dissemination of information and education on corruption.
This vital function is entrusted to the Commission’s Public Education and Outreach Department (PEOD), which comprises four units: Public Education, External Outreach, Public Relations, and Audio-Visual. Together, these units work to promote the work and image of the ACC and to win public support for transparency and accountability in public service. This commitment reflects the understanding that people need accurate information to make informed choices — not only in pursuit of personal goals but also in contributing to national development for the common good.
The dissemination of accurate, timely information is therefore not merely a matter of public interest but a democratic right. Jurgen Habermas, a German philosopher and sociologist, argues that an unrestricted flow of information is fundamental to democratic participation. When such information is withheld, public engagement suffers, often giving rise to speculation and distrust. The ACC acknowledges this by promoting civic participation through outreach activities designed to illuminate the causes and consequences of corruption. At the heart of this approach lies the goal of fostering a transformative, collective mindset that firmly rejects corrupt practices.
The dissemination of accurate, timely information is therefore not merely a matter of public interest but a democratic right. Jurgen Habermas, a German philosopher and sociologist, argues that an unrestricted flow of information is fundamental to democratic participation. When such information is withheld, public engagement suffers, often giving rise to speculation and distrust. The ACC acknowledges this by promoting civic participation through outreach activities designed to illuminate the causes and consequences of corruption. At the heart of this approach lies the goal of fostering a transformative, collective mindset that firmly rejects corrupt practices.
In line with Article 13 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the ACC engages citizens through a variety of platforms: town hall meetings, outreach in schools and universities, press briefings, media publications, and radio discussions. As already noted, the overarching aim of these efforts is to reshape public attitudes and behaviours. By encouraging changes in knowledge, motivation, and confidence, the education campaign seeks to nurture a national culture that resolutely rejects corruption.
However, given Sierra Leone’s long history of corruption and a degree of public acceptance of it, the desired mental shift may appear to some as an elusive goal. Encouragingly, the people-centred activities of the Department are producing measurable results. According to the ACC’s Annual Report for 2023, the Department conducted “a total of 103 engagements with pupils and teachers of secondary schools and lecturers and students of colleges and universities.”
A central message in these engagements has been the rejection of academic malpractice, encouraging learners to embrace values such as diligence, honesty, and meritocracy in their pursuit of quality education. The Commissioner of the ACC, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., has personally delivered public lectures on corruption at all major universities in the country, inspiring young people to adopt a positive mindset as a first step in combating corruption and preparing for future positions of public trust.
In one engagement at a school in the northern region, after hearing anti-corruption messages, pupils raised their arms high and chanted in unison: “If it isn’t yours, don’t take it. If it isn’t true, don’t say it. Bye-bye to corruption for good.” This was a vivid demonstration of a developing mental capacity to reject corruption — reminiscent, in spirit, of the youthful defiance depicted in the film Sarafina, about student protests during apartheid South Africa.
The mindset shift is reinforced through the establishment of Integrity Clubs in schools and Accountability Now Clubs in tertiary institutions. These clubs serve as internal mechanisms to instil values in learners, equipping them to reject unethical conduct and contribute meaningfully to national development in future. This approach, in many ways, reflects the philosophy of “catching them young” — a principle that underpins much of the PEOD’s work.
Positive transformation is also taking root at community level. The 2023 ACC report notes that the Department held 26 community sensitisation meetings, some within the Grievance Redress Mechanism component of the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project. At these meetings, community members were encouraged to resist and report corruption. Local leaders, in particular, were urged to take ownership of the fight and uphold integrity in service delivery. In one such meeting in May 2024 in Falaba District, Paramount Chief Dr. Salifu Samura of Sulima Chiefdom declared: “The ACC ensures the right thing is done.”
Beyond persuasion, the law provides important incentives. The Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 (amended in 2019) offers “Protection of Informer” in Section 81(1), guaranteeing that both the identity of an informer and the information provided are kept confidential. Subsection (3) provides for a 10% reward from recovered property following a conviction, for informants whose intelligence leads to such an outcome.
Section 82 offers “Protection of Witnesses,” ensuring that those who report suspected corruption in good faith face neither criminal nor disciplinary repercussions. Victimising a witness is itself an offence, as is knowingly making a false report.
Ultimately, combating corruption is a complex challenge. Strong laws and anti-graft institutions are essential, but they cannot succeed in isolation. Empowering the public with knowledge about the causes and far-reaching effects of corruption is equally important, as it spurs active participation in the fight. The ACC’s PEOD has been working tirelessly, across multiple platforms, to stimulate a renewed way of thinking — one in which citizens are both willing and equipped to confront corruption at all levels of public service. This sustained prevention effort may well prove to be the most effective safeguard against impropriety in public life.
