By: Sylvanus Blake, Public Relations Officer, ACC.
The Deputy Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Sierra Leone (ACC-SL), Augustine Foday Ngobie on Wednesday, 25thSeptember, 2024, emphasized to a gathering of Anti-Corruption and Human Rights operatives of Liberia and Sierra Leone in Monrovia, Liberia, ‘’that the political will to grant physical independence to anti-graft outfits is a cardinal and unmistakable requirement in the fight against corruption if meaningful gains were to be made and sustained’’. He made these remarks at a dialogue session organized by the Office of the Liberian High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in collaboration with the Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Commissions of Sierra Leone and Liberia, aimed at strengthening cross-border efforts in the fight against corruption and promote and strengthen human rights, on the theme;‘’Dialogue for Stronger National and Regional Collaboration for Enhanced Human Rights Advocacy and the Fight Against Corruption’’.
Sharing the experiences of Sierra Leone’s progressive Anti-Corruption crusade and some of the reasons accounting for same, the Deputy Commissioner,ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie stated that Sierra Leone’s ACC is privileged with a historic practical paradigm of PRESIDENTIAL WILL which has bolstered up our crusade in the fight against corruption. Dilating on the importance of ‘’Political Will’’ in the fight against corruption, he stated that the country’s legal framework, (the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019), which is one of the strongest in Africa, clearly provides for an independent ACC, with its core values of; Independence, Professionalism, Impartiality, and Coalition Building and Partnership.
The ACC’s Deputy Chief commended the unflinching support from Sierra Leone’s President, His Excellency, Brig (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio in particular, the Government and the people of Sierra Leone by extension, as the Commission has over the period,successfully investigated and concluded high-profile cases including those involving senior government officials, probes into Parliament, the Office of the First Lady, recovery of an unprecedented amount of stolen wealth and other public assets, indictments, convictions, and in recent times banning public officers from holding office for corruption, etc.
Mr. Ngobie furthered that the independence of the ACC-SL can be seen in three critical areas including; Operational Independence, as it does not take directions and or instructions from any person or institution, including the prosecutorial independence that was granted it in 2008, allowing it to prosecute without recourse to the office of the Attorney General; Economic Independence, that allows the ACC tomanage the finances allocated to it by the Government of Sierra Leone, and Administrative Independence, which allows the ACC to administer itself, including recruitments and all staff issues, etc. Deputy Commissioner Ngobie pledged Sierra Leone’s readiness to support Liberia’s Anti-Corruption Commission at all times to enhance its fight against corruption through experience sharing, partnership, and mutual cooperation.
The ACC delegation that participated in the dialogue included the Deputy Commissioner, Coordinator of Operations, ACC, Emmanuel Koivaya Amara Esq, and Evelyn Kuyateh, ACC’s Director of Intelligence and Investigations. The dialogue is part of OHCHR’s Regional Program for Technical Cooperation, which seeks to foster stronger cooperation between human rights and anti-corruption institutions. The initiative focuses on exchanging best practices, laying the groundwork for future collaborations, and enhancing national and regional responses to corruption and human rights violations.
Speaking also at the event, Christian Mukosa, OHCHR’s representative at the dialogue, expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Government of Liberia in promoting and defendingthe rights of persons and controlling corruption. On the centrality of the relationship between corruption and human rights abuses, Mr. Mukosa underscored that corruption, when left unchecked, deprives the people of their dignity, infringes on their God, and constitutional-given rights, and undermines the ability of state institutions to protect the rights of especially vulnerable persons. He highlighted the significance of sharing experiences and effected collaboration between anti-corruption and human rights bodies, within and beyond the Sub-Region aimed at promoting the fight against corruption and human rights violations.
Present at the dialogue session and who made insightful statements were; Victor I.Lansana Esq, Vice Chairman, Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone,Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Liberia, Eddie S. Massally, and the UN Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Christine Umutoni.
