By: Alex A. Bah, Public Relations Assistant, ACC
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Sierra Leone is hosting a a four-day training of trainers on Corruption Risk Management (CRM) supported and facilitated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The training started on Monday, 2nd June 2025, at the Commission’s Conference Room, Integrity House, Freetown.
The UNODC leads global efforts against corruption through its role as guardian of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) which is the only legally-binding international anti-corruption instrument. It supports countries with legal advice, training, and cooperation to strengthen laws, promote transparency, and recover stolen assets.
Delivering the welcome address, Deputy Commissioner of ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie, described the training as a milestone in the Commission’s efforts to strengthen institutional capacity to prevent corruption. He emphasized that corruption disproportionately benefits a few at the expense of the majority, hence it is critical to collectively address it.
"This kind of training empowers the Commission to be more strategic and proactive in its mandate. Corruption risk management is a vital prevention tool that enables institutions to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities before they are exploited,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the UNODC, Kojo Attisso, Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa, expressed appreciation to the ACC for its commitment. “When we planned this workshop, our goal was not just to build national capacity, but to eventually have Sierra Leonean experts deliver trainings in other parts of Africa. We are pleased to have Sierra Leone participate in this project, especially as many countries in this region have not been receiving such support,” he noted.
Also present was Robert Banamwama, Head of the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Sierra Leone, who delivered remarks on behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator. “We thank the ACC for this partnership. When governments take the fight against corruption seriously, it fosters trust and accountability. The UN is proud to collaborate with the ACC in strengthening prevention mechanisms,” Banamwama said.
He added that the fight against corruption is not only about enforcement but also about building resilient institutions through prevention, especially in countries like Sierra Leone that have shown great progress.
The lead facilitator of the training is Isatou Batonon, Officer at the UNODC Anti-Corruption Hub for Africa. She provided an overview of the broader project, stating that it aims to empower institutions that can resist corruption and contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her session focused on the fundamentals of Corruption Risk Management, its integration into Sierra Leone’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy, and the broader CRM process.
The training also targets investigators, prevention officers, and representatives from critical public institutions like the National Revenue Authority (NRA), the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), and the Ministry of Finance, among others.
