As part of its ongoing customized engagements with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to identify and prevent corruption in their operations and management systems, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Education and Outreach Unit in Kono on Friday, 8th August 2025, held a successful sensitization meeting with the management and in-charges of the District Health Management Team (DHMT) at their conference hall in Koidu City.
Addressing the gathering, ACC Seanior Public Education Officer, Sam P. Gogra, cited Section 7(1)(a) of the ACC Act 2008 (as amended in 2019), which mandates the Commission to take all necessary steps to prevent, eradicate, or suppress corruption or corrupt practices in service delivery.
He stressed that the ACC is not a witch-hunting body but is committed to ensuring quality service delivery in the health sector that meets public expectations in line with best practices. Recognizing the participants as reliable development professionals, Mr. Gogra urged them to shun all forms of corruption in the discharge of their duties.
Highlighting specific corrupt practices in government hospitals that undermine effective service delivery, he cited the diversion of public or donor property for personal use, theft or sale of counterfeit and expired drugs, absenteeism, bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation, conspiracy, kickbacks from suppliers, “ghost patients,” and the sale of personal drugs at health facilities while allowing government drugs to expire. “Any of these offences attracts a fine of Fifty Million Old Leones or a jail term of five years if convicted in a court of law,” he warned.
To minimize corruption risks, Mr. Gogra encouraged the staff to declare their assets and liabilities within the stipulated timelines, describing the process as a vital transparency and accountability tool. He further advised the formation of a functional Integrity Management Committee (IMC) to identify corruption opportunities and recommend preventive measures, as well as the establishment of a gift register to record any gift exceeding Five Million Old Leones received in the course of their duties. He concluded by appealing to the health practitioners to integrate anti-corruption safeguards into their operations to enhance service delivery and avoid the sanctions of the law.
ACC Public Education Officer, Patricia J. Sannoh, underscored the importance of the engagement, noting that it offered an opportunity for DHMT staff to reflect on corrupt and unethical practices that undermine essential medical and social services, especially in remote communities. She outlined the various channels for reporting corruption to the Commission, as well as the protections available to informants and whistleblowers under the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 (as amended in 2019). She urged participants to uphold integrity and operate ethically in line with best practices.
Tamba Ansumana, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, commended the ACC for the initiative, describing the meeting as “very vital and necessary.” He noted that DHMT staff play a crucial role in saving lives and delivering essential services, often in hard-to-reach communities. He assured the ACC of the team’s full support in the fight against corruption.
