By Aiah P. M. Sourie
Head, External Outreach, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)
The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the most comprehensive international treaty against corruption. Articles 8 and 52 of the treaty urge each State Party to incorporate anti-corruption measures into its legal system to promote prevention, accountability, and transparency in public life. In compliance — and according to the World Bank’s Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) — over 160 countries have introduced systems for public officials to declare their assets and interests. Sierra Leone is one such country, having made a committed deployment of this system — a real game changer.
The country’s amended Anti-Corruption Act, 2019, explicitly provides for the declaration of income, assets, and liabilities of public officers under Section 119. Accordingly, all public officers in grade seven and above, and those in lower grades with fiduciary responsibilities, are required to comply. Over the years, the compliance rate has improved remarkably, particularly after the digitisation process began in 2017 and the full online regime was rolled out in 2022. For example, in 2022, the overall compliance rate was 95 per cent, and in 2024, 91.1 per cent.
As compliance continues to rise, it is crucial to understand that asset disclosure is not merely a statutory requirement — and certainly not a perfunctory exercise. It is neither ‘Ariogbo’, a traditional masquerade believed to be imbued with powers to hunt down witches, wizards, and thieves. On the contrary, it is an accountability tool and a transformative strategy to protect public resources for the common good. Beyond filling in the asset form lies a critical test of integrity and patriotism — the very fulcrum of the process.
Consider this for a moment. You are a public officer seated before a computer with an open asset declaration form. Perhaps someone is beside you, providing assistance. The fundamental point to remember is that the process demands complete, factual, and truthful details — and that should never be discounted. At that moment, you figuratively become the writer of your own moral portrait, painting on the canvas of your job and civic obligations. What are you entering in the form, knowing that the choice of what you submit is yours alone, and that there are consequences?
The temptation to falsify details or evade the process altogether must be resisted, for doing so subverts transparency and accountability in both the public and private sectors. Besides, there are clear penalties for those who flout the requirements. Section 122(1) of the Act states that a public officer who, without valid reason, fails to declare their income, assets, and liabilities with the ACC, or deliberately submits misleading or false information, is liable to administrative sanctions — including, but not limited to, suspension, withholding of salary, or dismissal.
Yet, compliance brings its own rewards. The system shields public officers from unfounded allegations of corruption and unjust seizure of property. A few years ago, a public officer named Samu (pseudonym) served as a finance officer in a public institution. A lone son, he inherited a house worth one billion Leones from his late father. Samu duly registered his lawful property after his father’s passing. Shortly afterwards, however, his uncle accused him of acquiring unexplained wealth. When an investigation was launched, it was found that Samu had declared his inherited property, supported by legal documents.
Put another way, asset declaration helps public officers demonstrate that their wealth is derived from lawful sources such as inheritance or private-sector work — not from illicit activity. Moreover, compliance with this globally recognised anti-corruption measure demonstrates a commitment to integrity and good governance. It strengthens public trust between declarants and citizens: if you can honestly and consistently declare your assets, you can serve with what I call patriotic candour.
As previously noted, and at this juncture, it is also worth reiterating — asset declaration is anchored in honesty. It compels public officers to choose between self-interest and public duty. Every public office is a platform to serve citizens who, in turn, demand transparency, accountability, and results. Public officers are therefore expected to meet those expectations by candidly disclosing their income, assets, and liabilities to the ACC: within three months of assuming office, every two years thereafter, and upon leaving office.
In brief, Sierra Leone has firmly aligned itself with international instruments such as the UNCAC, demonstrating its commitment to the global fight against corruption. The adoption of an asset declaration regime in law is a testament to this resolve — a measure designed to strengthen accountability and transparency in public service. The impressive compliance levels are the result of the dedicated work of the ACC’s Asset Declaration Unit and its Public Education and Outreach Department.
