The Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone designate, Momodu Kargbo, on Thursday 17^th July, 2014 officially launched the National Corruption Perception Survey 2013 at the Ministry of Finance Conference Hall in Freetown. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), with support from the World Bank, contracted the Centre for Development and Security Analysis (CEDSA) to conduct the research.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Kargbo said the perception of people is very important in governance and in determining the effectiveness of service delivery. He called on public officers to inculcate the values of integrity and transparency and not to see the report as the work of mere perceptions.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the launching and Deputy Commissioner of the ACC, Shollay Davies, described the survey as a tool to measure performance so that areas of concern would be addressed to ensure improved and better service delivery. He said the report should not be seen as an attempt to stigmatise or ridicule any individual or institution.

World Bank Country Representative Francis Atto-Brown said he was happy with the progress the ACC has been making especially in bringing to book those engaged in acts of corruption. He said corruption is one of the main challenges to the development of the country and therefore urged the Commission to continue with its hard work to end impunity.

Chairman of the ACC Advisory Board, Sheikh Abubakarr Conteh called on Sierra Leoneans to consider corruption as a common enemy and see the fight against corruption as a fight for all.

Commissioner of the ACC, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, said both public and private institutions should work to mainstream anti-corruption measures in their activities. He said the institutions named in the survey should now go to the drawing board and find ways to improve services in order to change the negative perceptions people have about them. The Commissioner said the damaging effects of corruption are wide-ranging and therefore called on Sierra Leoneans to be more nationalistic and depoliticize the fight against corruption. Mr. Kamara expressed his resolve to ensure that individuals acting in contravention of the anti-corruption laws are brought to book.

Two of the lead researchers for CEDSA, Dr Osman Gbla and Samuel J. Brima, made a PowerPoint presentation of the findings of the survey. Some of the major findings are that 67% of the respondents said corruption is still a serious problem in Sierra Leone while 78% believe the lead cause of corruption is greed and selfishness. People also perceive the police as the most corrupt institution followed by the judiciary. The statistics also show that the people have high confidence in the government’s commitment and the ACC’s efforts in fighting against corruption- 80% believe the government is committed in the fight against corruption, while 75% say the Commission is doing very well in the fight.