2. Page 2 The Africa Education Empowerment Movement (AEEM), a vibrant youth organisation dedicated to promoting education and leadership development, on 6th March 2025, presented an award to the Commissioner of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) for his outstanding leadership in the fight against corruption and for promoting ethical governance. Stating the purpose of the award, Chief Executive Officer of AEEM, Patrick P. Williams, said his organisation has recognised the Commissioner ’ s result - oriented work to instill good governance, a cause linked to AEEM ’ s mission of empowering young people through education and ethical leadership. “ We are here to appreciate your good work and to pledge our support to the fight against corruption, ” he said. Mr. Williams praised the Commissioner for setting high standards and for making corruption a high risk venture in public service. “ Your commitment to combating corruption in Sierra Leone serves as an inspiration to not only young Sierra Leoneans but to the African Continent, ” Mr. Williams added. He concluded by commending the Commissioner for his tireless efforts in combating corruption and promoting transparency and accountability in Sierra Leone. Responding to the award, the ACC Commissioner expressed gratitude for the recognition and reiterated the need for continued collaboration between the ACC and the AEEM in promoting the anti - corruption campaign. “ Corruption affects young people the most; it deprives young people of opportunities they deserve. Youth - led organisations can play a vital role in instilling honesty and responsibility in the next generation, ” he said. The Commissioner encouraged them to uphold ethical values, and also champion initiatives that foster good governance and social justice. He assured them that the Commission will always render support to youth - led initiatives. AEEM is a youth - led organisation dedicated to promoting inclusive, equitable and quality education across Africa. Founded with the vision of creating a continent where every individual has access to transformative learning opportunities, AEEM addresses systemic barriers that hinder education for marginalized and underserved populations. Its mission revolves around ensuring that education is a fundamental right accessible to all, empowering communities to thrive and contribute meaningfully to their societies. . B y A m i e M a s s a q u o i , I n f o r m a t i o n O f f i c e r , A C C ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. in a group photo with members of the AEEM

3. Page 3 B y : B e r n a r d A b a s s K a r g b o , P u b l i c E d u c a t i o n O f f i c e r - A C C The Advocacy Network for Girls Sierra Leone Parliament (ANGSLP) on 26th February, 2025 presented an award to the Commissioner of the Anti - Corruption Commission, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., for his “ unwavering dedication to combating corruption and promoting integrity within the nation. ” Advocacy Network for Girls Sierra Leone Parliament is a girl - youth - led organization that seeks to empower and advocate for the rights of girls in Sierra Leone and to raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities for girls in Sierra Leone. Giving the objective of the award, Honourable Alice S. Bangura of the ANGSLP said “ beyond the great anti - corruption wins that Mr. Kaifala has achieved, he has also shown a profound commitment to the advancement of women and girls in Sierra Leone. ” She highlighted all the achievements the Commission has made since Mr. Kaifala was made Commissioner of the ACC, adding that his efforts have not only resulted in numerous successful investigations and prosecutions but have also inspired others to join the fight against corruption. She cited international benchmarks like the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, among others, as indicators of gains made in the anti - corruption campaign. The girls also used the opportunity to present a partnership proposal to the Commissioner. Honourable Mujeh Joy Mohai of the ANGSLP highlighted the importance of collaboration between their organization and the ACC in establishing programs and initiatives to empower and protect girls, stating that “ through joint public awareness campaigns, we aim to educate communities on how corruption hinders girls ’ development . W e also propose conducting integrity training in schools, empowering girls to recognize and resist corrupt practices. ” Responding, Commissioner Kaifala expressed his gratitude for the recognition: “ I am impressed that as young as you are, you are capable of organizing yourselves, as we all continue to work for a better Sierra Leone, where the younger ones can learn from good examples set, so that you can be the leaders that we want for the country. ” The Commissioner informed them of the Commission's commit- ment to working with all stakeholders to combat corruption and create a conducive environment for the development and advancement of girls in the country and assured them that the Commission will look into their proposal for partnership. ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. receiving the Award Group photo after the event

4. Page 4 B y : A l e x A . B a h , P u b l i c R e l a t i o n s A s s i s t a n t , A C C Deputy Commissioner Augustine Foday Ngobie during the panel discussion At the Sixteenth Session of the Implementation Review Group of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) held in Vienna, Austria, from the 17th - 21st February, 2025 Deputy Commissioner of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC), Sierra Leone, Augustine Foday Ngobie 20th Feb- ruary 2025, in a high - level panel, made an insightful presentation on Sierra Leone ’ s impressive strides in combating corruption. His presentation highlighted the country ’ s progress in implementing the UNCAC, participation in review mechanisms, and the challenges faced. Deputy Commissioner Ngobie traced Sierra Leone ’ s commitment to the UNCAC, which was signed on the 9th December, 2003, and ratified on the 30th September, 2004. Since then, Sierra Leone has adopted many UNCAC provisions through its Anti - Corruption Act 2008, further strengthened by amendments in 2019. This law, one of the most robust in Sub - Saharan Africa, criminalizes bribery, misappropriation of public funds, procurement malpractices, and false asset declarations. It also empowers the ACC to conduct public sector reviews and raise public awareness on corruption. A major highlight of his presentation was Sierra Leone ’ s prosecutorial powers and the establishment of a dedicated Anti - Corruption Court. This unique initiative has allowed the country to expedite trials and recover stolen public assets through non - conviction - based mechanisms. Other legal frameworks supporting anti - corruption efforts include the Anti - Money Laundering and Combating of Financing of Terrorism Act of 2012, the Government Budgeting and Accountability Act of 2005, and the Right to Access Information Act of 2013. Deputy Commissioner Ngobie emphasized Sierra Leone ’ s active participation in UNCAC ’ s review mechanisms, noting how interaction with other States enabled the ACC to adopt best practices. He highlighted the role of civil society and recommended expanding technical support for developing countries to strengthen their anti - corruption frameworks. Looking ahead, Sierra Leone plans to launch the next phase of the UNCAC Implementation Review Mechanism in December 2025. Preparations are set to begin in June, with a coordinated effort involving the ACC, Ministry of Justice, Judiciary, Audit Service, and other stakeholders. Mr Ngobie also outlined key challenges, including limited staff training opportunities, outdated operational tools, and inadequate regional office facilities. Despite these hurdles, he reaffirmed Sierra Leone ’ s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the global fight against corruption.

1. Contd on Pg 4 E D I T O R I A L T E A M E D I T O R - I N - C H I E F Abubakarr Turay E D I T O R S Sylvanus Blake Alex A. Bah L A Y O U T & G R A P H I C S Philippa M Davies E D I T O R I A L A D V I S E R S Augustine Foday Ngobie Patrick Sandi 10th— 14 th March 2025 Issue 3, Volume 02 ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. giving updates to the media Journalists at the press conference streams of the FCC were seriously under attack. “ When cheques are written in the name of Freetown City Council, and given to a particular revenue generating department in the Council, somehow, they found a way to make sure that that money is paid into the football account and distributed among themselves, ” he stated. He said the football account was set up in 2019 for the welfare and management of the club. He said the FCC management decided to give autonomy to the football team. The Commissioner said that the FCC staff colluded with bankers at the CMB to perpetrate these heinous acts of corruption. He urged the banks to take conscious measures to protect government revenue and the savings of customers, and warned that banks will face serious consequences for the actions of their staff. Mr Kaifala said that the persons involved in the syndicate have been arrested; many of them have been in custody, while some have been granted bail. He continued that “ most of them have confessed, and some of them have started returning the money. ” He warned that these will be followed by other serious consequences. He said the funds recovered from the investigations will be paid back to the The Commissioner of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. has updated the media about the ongoing corruption investigation involving staff of the Freetown City Council (FCC) and the Commerce and Mortgage Bank (CMB). The Commissioner gave the updates at a press conference held at the Conference Room of the Commission ’ s Integrity House, on Thursday, 6 th March 2025. The ACC Commissioner said, so far, the investigation showed that 13 staff of the FCC colluded with 2 banking staff of the Commerce and Mortgage Bank (CMB) to defraud the FCC of about Four Billion (Old) Leones between 2022 and 2025. He said the said staff diverted payments that were meant for the Council to an account that was opened for the FCC Football Club. The Commissioner said the top management of the Council discovered that there were discrepancies in certain payments that were not reflected in the Council ’ s general account, emphasizing that “ this investigation started with the Freetown City Council checking its system. ” He said it was during the FCC investigation that the ACC became aware of the issue and the Commission ’ s investigations team intervened to dissect the problem, and they were able to make discoveries that the revenue B y : B e r n a r d A b a s s K a r g b o , P u b l i c E d u c a t i o n O f f i c e r - A C C