3. Page 3 T he Public Education Unit with support from the Investigations Unit of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC), Kono District, has en- gaged stakeholders, members of the Community Development Commit- tee and residents of Sandor Chiefdom on best practices relating to the handling of community funds for development. This engagement was held at Yengema community on 23rd September 2024. Speaking on the purpose of the meeting, the Regional Manager, Mrs. Hawanatu Omotayo Kamara said, it was occasioned by allegations and concerns from members of the public, that the Diamond Area Communi- ty Development Funds (DACDF) are mismanaged by the Chiefdoms au- thorities. She furthered that the DACDF fund is not for an individual or group of individuals but a public fund meant for developmental projects at chiefdom levels. Madam Hawanatu also stated that the DACDF are proceeds from taxes and licenses paid in respect of mining operations in the chiefdoms. Such monies should be diligently appropriated and used judiciously for it in- tended purpose, as mining activities will end but developmental activities should continue, she averred. In regard accountability and transparency, the Manager underscored that all public funds should not be kept secret and that the community people should be aware of the amount of monies received and should be able to respond to questions and comments. She also disclosed that the communities through the ACC outreach programs, have been empowered and capacitated on how to detect corruption and corruption - related activities and more critically, on how to report The audience at the engagement in Sandor The Regional Manager, Kono, Hawanatu Omotayo Kamara, making a statement corruption to the Commission. She therefore issued a stern warning to members of the Chiefdom Development Committee to desist from any dubious activities and make available to ac- countability institutions all documents when asked to so. ACC’s Investigation Officer, Dauda Kaikai, in his submission, called on members of the community to refrain from any form of corruption as the Commission will not look at age, sex or position held in the chiefdom when it comes to the accountability of public funds. The ACC Investigator explained some of the key offences in the Anti - Corruption Act of 2008 and as amended in 2019; citing misappropriation of government and donor funds, abuse of office, peddling influence, bribery, conflict of interest etc. Each offence if indicted and found guilty, would require the individual to pay a fine of not less than Fifty (50) Thousand news Leones or imprisonment not less than Five (5) years or to both such fine and imprisonment, the Investigator added. He finally advised the Chiefdom Committee members and urged them to desist from all forms of corruption when handling chiefdom funds and to make public all funds generated from local taxes and other revenues. Public Education Officer, ACC, Patricia J. Sannoh also took the participant through the process of reporting corruption to the Commission. In her Contd. on Pg 4

2. Page 2 T he Deputy Commissioner of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC), Augustine Foday Ngobie, has urged project staff of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) component of the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project to uphold the highest standards of diligence in the implementation of the project. He made the call during a five - day training session on Finalizing the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Manual and Report Writing. The training, being held from 15th to 18th October 2024 at the former WFP Hall in Port Loko in the north - west region of Sierra Leone, aims to review the implementation of the PSSNYE project and equip staff with the skills needed to enhance their monitoring efforts and ensure the effective execution of this poverty alleviation initiative. Mr. Ngobie emphasized the staff's critical responsibility to maintain the seamless implementation of the project. He stressed the importance of addressing any potential anomalies promptly to safeguard the program's integrity and impact. "The Government and the people of Sierra Leone rely on, trust, and depend on us to ensure scrupulous monitoring so that this social safety initiative can be implemented successfully," he stated. The Deputy Commissioner also encouraged staff to ensure timely reporting, particularly concerning grievance issues, to keep the World Bank and other partners informed, as the Commission places a high value on real - time reporting. He said that, at the last stakeholders' meeting in Freetown, several issues were raised, especially concerning the Payment Ser- vice Provider, including recent anomalies detected during payment exercises. These issues led to the termination of certain service agreements and ongoing reviews. He disclosed that investigators had been approved to visit the affected communities and reiterated the Commission's commitment to ensuring that those involved face the consequences. "These funds are meant for specific, identified beneficiaries and must not be misappropriated," Mr Ngobie said. Earlier, the ACC's Project Coordinator, Patrick Monrovia, commended the Deputy Commissioner for his careful supervision and guidance in overseeing the implementation of the GRM. He noted that the refresher trainings are designed to better equip staff, and the Deputy Commissioner's presence and encouragement added a motivational boost to their work. The Deputy Commissioner's address concluded with a question - and - answer session. ACC’s Deputy Commissioner Augustine Foday Ngobie addressing the staff at the training By: Alex A. Bah, Public Relations Assistant, ACC Engagements ongoing

4. Page 4 Contd. from Pg 1 .When we farm, we will produce what we eat and do so with quality, the President added. President Bio encouraged all present to invest in agriculture as it is most rewarding. "We encourage the private sector to invest in agriculture. My government will continue to provide the enabling environment through investment in roads and other infrastructure that will enable farming" the President averred. ACC Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala in his expose told this medium that the ACC has a broad mandate to protect public resources and in pursuing that mandate, it will grab with tight fist every opportunity to be aware of where Government resources are being expended, follow through on same to ensure accountability, and continue to remind ourselves to uphold integrity in the discharge of our responsibilities. "Sierra Leone's dignity and sovereignty can only be 100%, when it can feed herself sustainably, and from Contd from Pg 3 what we have seen here today, I believe we are on the right trajectory". However, we should not and will not be complacent. We will continue to address promptly all suspected instances of corruption that in this and all other Government and public interest projects and programmes," he asserted. The Commissioner, who is a prominent farmer, affirmed that by this event, he felt rekindled and enthused to continue farming and called on all Sierra Leoneans to take up farming. Other dignitaries who made significant and meaningful contributions at the august event included the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Musa Kpaka, the Chairman of President's Initiative on Renewable Energy, Climate Change and Food Security Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella etc. The Senior Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Prince Cole, chaired the event. By: Mohamed Sylvanus Blake, PRO, ACC presentation, Ms. Sannoh highlighted some of the gains made by the Commission through reporting corruption and the benefits of the whistle blower policy of the Commission. The Public Educator f urther explained the channels of reporting corruption to the Commission such as, calling the free toll of 8515, 077985985, or 077 - 986986, or sending text messages or by visiting the office at 18 Sanssie Street. She encouraged them to be reporting corruption to the ACC as it is the only way the Commission will be aware of what is happening behind their ba cks. “Reporting corruption will bring to light surreptitious activities undertaken by authorities, the Public Educ ator concluded. Making input on behalf of the Chiefdom Development Committee, Sahr Lebbie, a Committee member, expressed gratitude to the ACC for the good work they have been doing in ensuring corruption activ ities are minimized in the country. He assured the members of the Commission that the issues they have learned from the engagement, will be implemented as best practices in the handling funds of chiefdom development funds. Mr. Lebbie also implored members of the community to be whistle blowers of corruption especially those relating to education and health issues. “We are a law abiding people and are ready to work with the practices and proc edures of the Anti - Corruption Commission in enhancing transparency, accountability and economic development”, Lebbie added.

1. 14th—18th October, 2024 Issue 2 Volume 39 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 ship program being a core part of the Government’s Big Five Game Changers. The event which brought together Farmers Associations from across the 16 districts of Sierra Leone , to display their products, wares and reassess the effects of efforts and resources invested into the flagship program, was an agricultural pageantry that served to remind Sierra Leone- ans of the economic and moral need to be a food secure and sovereign nation, which was reminiscent of the old "Cocoa/Agricultural Show". The Feed Salone Anniversary is celebrated in conjunction with the World Food Day, set aside by the United Nations to give prominence to the drive for global food security and the investment of efforts and resources into defeat- ing hunger and starvation. It could be recalled that while declaring the "Feed Salone” Flagship program" on the 16th October, 2023, in Pujehun, His Excellency Brigadier (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio stated that the program "will boost agricultural productivity to fuel inclusive growth, increase local food production and reduce our dependence on food import, re- duce hunger, increase export earnings, create jobs, and build a climate resilient food system" T he Commissioner of the Anti - Corruption Commission, Sierra Leone Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. on Wednesday 16th October 2024, joined His Excellency, the President, the Government of Sierra Leone, Farmers, the International Community, and the general public at the Kailahun Town Field, Luawa Chiefdom, in the Kailahun District, Eastern Sierra Leone, to observe and commemorate the first anni- versary of the "FEED SALONE" Government Flag- Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. granting an interview on the World Food Day Celebration. By: Mohamed Sylvanus Blake, PRO, ACC Contd on Pg 4 His Excellency Brigadier Rtd. Dr. Julius Maada Bio closely flanked by Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. and staff at the engagement President Bio further stated that no country has ever recorded any meaningful develop- ment without going through an agricultural revolution that will allow it to feed her population sustainably and be food sovereign. "We have to be able to feed ourselves, and we must do this now" he re - iterated. He furthered that he has not only told the people to farm, but has prioritized state investment into agriculture (the Feed Salone Flagship), encouraged and supported donor and private sector investment in agriculture, and as an individual, has led by example by establishing his own farms, including a 1400 acres of rice farm that he commenced harvesting yesterday, fish, vegetables, cash crops, and other farms.