The Minister of Finance and Economic Development Dr Kaifala Marrah has said that the Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) deserves a warm handshake for the 1.3 billion Leones plus 50 thousand dollars recovered from public officials and institutions in 2013.

The Commissioner of the ACC, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara on 14^thJanuary formally presented to the Minister of Finance stolen public monies recovered by the Commission in 2013. Speaking at the event at the Minister’s George Street office in Freetown, the ACC Commissioner said the recoveries made by the Commission from 2008 to date now amounted to over 12 billion Leones. The monies recovered were paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Mr. Kamara described the recoveries as an essential tool in the fight against corruption. The ACC Chief welcomed President Ernest Bai Koroma’s pledge to give more support to the Commission to ensure that the fight against graft in the country becomes more robust. He also recommended that the recoveries being made by the ACC were made more physical and evidential by spending them on specific public projects like healthcare and transportation for students.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Development Dr. Kelfala Marrah thanked the ACC Chief and his team for their “sustained efforts” in the fight against corruption in the country. He said he was happy to realise that the Commission was ever determined to ensure that the resources of the state were not misappropriated by a few individuals. The finance minister also noted that the recoveries by the ACC were a good step to reduce wastages in the public sector. He added that the decision by the government to increase the salaries of public sector workers this year was partly to curb corrupt practices in the country.

Dr. Marrah welcomed the recommendation made by the ACC Commissioner for the government to be spending monies recovered by the ACC on specific projects. This, he said, would make the public realise the efforts of the Commission and the country as a whole in the fight against graft. He urged the ACC Commissioner to set up a team that would work with his technical team in the ministry to ensure that the recommendation is put into force within the shortest possible time. The Finance Minister ended his statement by giving what he called a “warm handshake” for the tremendous work done by the ACC in 2013.