2. Page 2 By: Sylvanus Blake, PRO - ACC Deputy Commissioner, ACC Augustine Foday Ngobie delivering his address . Contd on Pg 4 Hon. Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Chairing the Inter - Agency Forum Meeting. corruption and grievances to the ACC. He also reassured them of the robust witness, and informant/whistleblower Protection Mechanisms provided for in the Anti - Corruption Act of 2008 as amended. He underscored that the ACC has been part of the SSN process, in order to ensure that funds and resources provided are judiciously utilized for their intended purposes without any hindrances. He furthered that the ACC has the mandate to protect public resources and hold persons accountable for corrupt practices and shall at all times be prompt and robust in this regard. "Wherever resources are provided, there will always be the risk of these resources to be misused. We shall resist such at all times. We have done it before in other SSN projects and we shall continue to do.", he averred The Hon. Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Chairing the Inter - Agency Forum Meeting for Social Protection, disclosed that such meetings are critical to coordinate the rollout of all SSN projects in order to maximize impact, devoid of duplicity of resources. "What we want to leave this meeting with as in previous meetings, is a comprehensive answer to how we shall enhance coordination and ensure success maximization" he said. A t the commencement of the third "Inter - Agency Meeting on Social Protection" held at the Kenema District Council Hall along Nyandeyama Road in Kenema, Eastern Sierra Leone on the 9th and 10th August 2024, Deputy Commissioner of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) Augustine Foday Ngobie, has reaffirmed to the Government of Sierra Leone, International Partners, Stakeholder Institutions involved in the roll - out of all Social Safety Net (SSN) related pro- grammes and projects, that the ACC shall at all times continue to display stout and unwavering commitment to promptly addressing every form of suspected corruption that may creep into these much needed critical pro - poor development projects, intended to aid poor vulnerable persons and households in Sierra Leone. The Deputy Commissioner further stated that the ACC, which superintends the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) component in the ongoing Government of Sierra Leone, World Bank, and UNICEF $:42 Million funded Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project and other social safety net projects that the Commission will continue to raise sufficient publicity and awareness on the need for a corrupt - free rollout of these projects, empower the public to unhesitantly report all suspected instances of Group photo taken after the engagement

1. 5th—9th August 2024 Issue 2 Volume 29 INTEGRITY HOUSE, TOWER HILL FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE EDITORIAL TEAM EDITOR - IN - CHIEF Abubakarr Turay EDITORS Sylvanus Blake Alex A. Bah LAYOUT & GRAPHICS Philippa M. Davies EDITORIAL ADVISERS Augustine Foday Ngobie Patrick Sandi SL, comprised the Executive Director of GIABA, Edwin W. Harris Jnr., Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Gambia, Alhaji Daboh, and other staff of GIABA and FIA - SL. The Director General of the FIA - SL said the meeting was meant to discuss issues bordering on the work of GIABA, Combating of Financial Crimes and Money Laundering in West Africa, and plans to have Sierra Leone host GIABA’s forthcoming plenary. M r Bobor also stated that Sierra Leone was subjected to a second round of mutual evaluation in 2019, and in 2020 when the results were published there were a number of strategic deficiencies that needed to be addressed before transitioning into the thi rd round of evaluation. “There is no better partner in this than the ACC and we have enjoyed a lot of support from them, with all thanks to the Commissioner,” he noted. The Executive Director of GIABA, Edwin W. Harris Jnr., in his statement, commended the ACC Commissioner and the work of the ACC, noting his admiration at the deep working relationship between the ACC and FIA - SL. He however stated that all other countries did not do well in the second round of evaluation, highlighting issues of limited use of artificial intelligence, weak implementation, inadequate awareness raising and non - prioritization of money laundering investigations. Edwin W. Harris Jnr., Executive Director of GIABA (R) whilst making his statement; seated next to him is David Borbor, Director General of the Financial Intelligence Agency – Sierra Leone Contd. on Pg 4 T he Inter governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) together with the Financial Intelligence Agency Sierra Leone (FIA - SL) has met with the Commissioner of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) Francis Ben Kaifala Esq to consult with him on efforts being made by Sierra Leone to combat money laundering and other transnational crimes in the country. The engagement took place on Wednesday, 7 th August, 2024, at the Conference Hall of the Integrity House, Tower Hill, Freetown. The delegation, which was led by David Borbor, Director General of the FIA - By: Alex A. Bah, Public Relations Assistant, ACC Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., Commissioner (Head) of ACC making his Statement

4. Page 4 Contd. from Pg 1 Contd from Pg 2 Mr. Harris stated that successfully implementing the issues raised will help the country to better its performance in subsequent evaluations. “We are thankful as we know who you are and your support will go a long way,” the Executive Director added whilst requesting for the ACC to further support the FIA - SL in its transition from a Unit to an Agency. This, he said, means the Agency now has bigger responsibilities, and therefore needs a building on their own. He also requested for the establishment of a central authority to transmit and process formal requests to aid in financial crimes investigations. While responding, the ACC Commissioner welcomed the GIABA team and expressed his delight to host such a meeting, noting that the ACC together with these institutions work in a complicated, complex and ever - changing space. He said the partnership was important for the purpose of exerting control to address money laundering and other forms of economic crimes. He said this also means making sure people were held accountable. Linking the "Government's Big Five Game Changers" manifesto promises, the Hon. Vice President stated that the manifesto agenda seeks to help in the transition from supporting consumption to supporting production, as such SSN related projects and programmes are directed in tandem with them. "Social Protection is a pro - poor vehicle, and it is a good vehicle. But transitioning people out of vulnerabilities requires far more than social protection cash handouts. We must continue to coordinate our efforts to include transitioning our vulnerable people into sustainable livelihood opportunities. Your statements and contributions over the next two days should help give us an idea of where we should be going with social protection", he concluded. “This requires cooperation with other institutions like the FIA - SL, which we consider a critical extension of our work. Cooperation is also key even at the regional level as money laundering activities are often cross border crimes,” the Com- missioner said. Mr Kaifala added that the issues raised in the GIABA evaluation report could affect the country’s assessment in other areas, something that will affect the country’s image and investment attraction, among others. He said there is therefore the need to address the issues in the report more than ever before, especially so when they are all doable. He told the GIABA team that the ACC has created a new Directorate that will exclusively be charged with dealing with the management of assets recovered from economic crimes. He said that the ACC has additionally resourced its Financial Intelligence Unit with Forensic Accountants. “ Dealing with these issues is not easy but they are very doable as it only needs such collaborative moves and tenacity,” he ended concluded. By: Alex A. Bah, Public Relations Assistant, ACC By: Sylvanus Blake, PRO - ACC In the two - day forum meeting, the Hon. Vice President of Sierra Leone, shall continue to have more detailed and technical deliberations and sessions that will lead to a more comprehensive, well - coordinated, and swiftly implemented Social Protection projects. Key among the stakeholders at this year's forum meeting are; teams from our International Partners including the Country Directors of World Bank, UNICEF, World Food Program; Ministers of Employment, Labour, and Social Security, Social Welfare, Gender and Children's Affairs, Basic Education, Finance, the Statistician General, Director General of NASSIT; Commissioner of NaCSA, Deputy Commissioner of ACC, Mayors from all Cities/ Municipalities in Sierra Leone, Paramount Chiefs, Media, Civil Society etc. Contd from Pg 1 The ACC’s Legal Clerk also called members of the communities to support the ACC in monitoring the implementation of the Productive Social Safety Nets and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project. Funded by the World Bank, UNICEF, and the GoSL with funds of USD $42 Million, the project is designed to assuage the condition of the poorest of the poor mostly found in rural communities and empower youth through support to grow their entrepreneurial skills for self - reliance, among other things. He underscored the Commission’s role in the five - year project through its Grievance Redress Mechanism, which is aimed at identifying, re- ceiving, and responding to complaints from beneficiaries and the public at large. “I urge you to support the ACC monitor the project by reporting irregularities you notice or experience in the project.” In response to the integrity messages delivered, the chiefs of the communities thanked the ACC for the engagements and for its tough stance on ridding the country of corruption. Chief Kapr Kargbo of Sawulia confessed he was personally impressed by the friendly approach of the officers from the Commission’s Northern regional office in Makeni. According to him, the knowledge gained at the meeting clearly shows that the Commission, in its campaign, is by no means picking on any person or institution. “The ACC is working in the interest of all Sierra Leoneans. I’m sure that things will get better for us all as citizens of this great country. And we are henceforth determined to report corruption at the slightest opportunity,” he concluded

3. Page 3 A s awareness - raising is one of its effective weapons to sustain assault on corruption, the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) has sensitized residents of Makama community in Shebora chiefdom and Sawulia community in Gbanti chiefdom, Bombali District. The two engagements took place on 30 July and 1 August 2024 respectively, to empower them to discount and re- port corruption at the slightest opportunity. Delivering the thrust of the anti - corruption messages at the meetings, Senior Public Education Officer, Abdul Karim Bangura, described corruption as the abuse of trusted position or office for an advantage, personal or oth- erwise. He explained that at the heart of an act of corruption is a glaring distortion of public interest and safety, which can deeply negatively impact government’s development agenda, donor and investor confidence and trust. Mr. Bangura underlined the grim impacts of corruption on the country citing the devastating 11 - year war and pointing out that no one is immune to the consequences of public sector theft. He added that since corruption affects all, everyone should take responsibility and fully support the Commission in its relentless strides to prevent, investigate, and prosecute corruption for the benefit of all citizens regardless of political, tribal, regional background, and economic status. “No one should therefore decide to lag behind in or be indifferent to the patriotic campaign against corruption,” he furthered. According to the anti - graft officer, incidences of corruption are widespread, including in rural communities. He made plain that projects undertaken by District Councils and the presence of public bodies such as schools and health centres show that anti - corruption consciousness is as important in the rural setting as in the urban. At this juncture, he catalogued extortion by local courts and schools, and sales of bail and free medical care medications as examples of acts of corruption common in rural communities. He called corruption despicable and the main cause of the country’s lack of development since independence in April 1961. Senior Public Education Officer, Aiah Sourie, further stated that the ACC’s vigorous campaign against corruption and the corrupt has not waned. He said there are stiffer penalties, including a minimum five - year prison term and a minimum NLe50,000 fine for a single count of corruption offence upon conviction. He therefore encouraged local stakeholders in both communities to own and lead the fight against corruption at all times. “Once you as leaders set the right examples by upholding integrity in your various capacities, the rest of the community is much likely to follow suit,” he averred. Reporting corruption is an important aspect of the ACC’s campaign messages. As such, Ibrahim Bangura, Legal Clerk, in his contribution, called on his audiences to bravely and sincerely report corruption using the toll - free lines 077985985/077986986. He stressed that reporting corruption leads to thorough investigations and subsequent prosecution, and indicates communal interest and action in combating the scourge, which is a common foe. Mr. Bangura warned against trivializing the Commission’s reporting mechanisms by concocting claims just in an attempt to vilify the image of innocent people. “I should let you know that such an act wastes the Commission’s valuable time and creates tension in the community. It is important that we fight against corruption with integrity,” he noted. Chief Kapr Kargbo of Sawulia: ‘We will report corruption at the slightest opportunity Members of Makama community participate in the anti - corruption engagement. Senior Public Education Officer, Abdul Karim Bangura, delivering anti - graft mes- sages to Makama Community . Contd. on Pg 4