A delegation from the Prevention and Public Education departments of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has held fruitful engagement with representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs), the media, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in Kono to popularize the Compliance Sanctions Management Procedure Handbook for Systems and Policy Review Recommendations in public offices. The event was held at the ACC’s 37 Masingbi Road Office in Koidu City, Kono District.
Senior Investigation Officer of the ACC Alpha G. Koroma informed the gathering about the commission’s responsibility to educate the public about its operations, and further reminded the participants about the lack of commitments on the part of some public institutions to fully comply with the commission’s systems and policy review recommendations. He warned that the commission is empowered by the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 as amended in 2019 to effect sanctions on defaulting institutions.
In his presentation during the meeting, Head of the Public Education Unit of the ACC Michael Sesay emphasized the commission’s partnership with public and non-governmental institutions to suppress and fight corruption, noting that systems review exercises in public entities is a priority for the ACC to curb institutionalised corruption.
He said sensitizing public officers on the contents of the manual is essential in mainstreaming anti-corruption measures in MDAs. Mr Sesay therefore urged participants to take anti-corruption issues seriously and fully implement their prevention compliance strategies to avoid penalties from the commission.
Senior Regional Prevention Officer Sylvester Tykson Sowa warned the participants to treat all policy matters seriously so as to improve on public service delivery. Leading the discussions on the contents of the manual, he dilated on the compliance management tools used in monitoring the Systems and Processes Review Recommendations and the formula used in calculating the compliance scores in MDAs.
Abu Bakarr Bayoh of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) applauded the engagement and made a request from the ACC to make copies of the manual to public offices in the regions.
