Women’s History Month is marked each year throughout March as it celebrates and highlights women’s contributions to society. March 8 of every year is a day set aside for collective global activism and celebration that belongs to all those committed to forging women’s equality.
It offers an opportunity to reflect on progress made, to call for change, and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.
From their individual acts of courage to community outreach, women are courageously fighting corruption, promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability in their workplaces, communities, and beyond. Their work, while it comes with high risks and extreme sacrifices, often goes unrecognized.
Sierra Leone has passed the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act in 2022, which requires public and private employers to reserve 30 percent of jobs for women, including leadership positions, and stipulates that 30 percent of candidates put forward by any political party for Parliamentary and Local Elections must be female. “Now that we have a stable and peaceful Sierra Leone, we cannot afford to have women, who make up 52% of our population, not featuring prominently in politics and leadership,” said Sierra Leone’s President, H.E Brig. (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio.
The theme ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’ aligns with the priority theme for the UN’s 68th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 68) and will examine pathways to greater economic inclusion for women and girls everywhere. The theme recognizes that, despite progress, women face significant obstacles to achieve equal participation in the economy and calls for ensuring equal opportunity for women and girls to build their capabilities and strengthen their capacity to learn, earn, and lead.
Now, this piece is meant to celebrate one of the fearless women who is taking the lead in fighting corruption at a heightened risk of marginalization, hate and neglect.
MRS. EVELYN SAMUELLA KUYATEH
Mrs. Evelyn Samuella Kuyateh is the Director of Intelligence and Investigations at the Anti-Corruption (ACC) of Sierra Leone. She has been in the anti-corruption frontline for over 20 years. This anti-graft giantess is a graduate of the University of Sierra Leone with both a Bachelor and Master’s Degrees.
This notable woman joined the ACC as an Investigation Officer in 2001, a year after the Commission’s establishment. The zest and sedulousness she portrayed led her to be promoted to Senior Investigation Officer in 2006. Due to her integrity and professionalism, our fearless woman is the first and only woman in the ACC to have attained the position of the Chief of Investigations, the then pinnacle of investigation at that time. Mrs. Kuyateh was also transferred to head the Regional Office in Kenema as the Regional Manager from 2011 to 2013 after which she was recalled to take up the position of Deputy Director of the Intelligence, Investigations and Prosecution Department.
Our trailblazer woman was appointed Director of the Intelligence and Investigations Department, which is her current position. She has worked with Interpol to arrest fugitives and brought them back to Sierra Leone to face the law. She has attended dozens of intelligence-related, fraud, criminal investigations and money laundering trainings locally and internationally, and has vast knowledge in investigations and crimes. Her outstanding leadership has seen the investigation of hundreds of cases of which over 90 percent has led to successful convictions. She is also working with the Serious Fraud Office and the National Crime Agency in the UK, assisting them as and when necessary to carry out enquiries in Sierra Leone. Her favorite quote is “Women deserve a world free from corruption, where their voices could be heard and their rights are protected”.
As the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day quintessence on Investing in women and girls for societal progress and development, our fearless woman has been silently fighting the good fight in her own way.
As I conclude this piece, I want to kindly ask all to collectively forge a more inclusive world for women and our girls. Together we can make a better Sierra Leone.
