2024

ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION OF SIERRA LEONE

An independent institution established for the prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of corruption, corrupt practices and to provide for other related matters. 

Contact us on: +23278832131 or info@anticorruption.gov.sl
Address:  Integrity House, Tower Hill, Freetown Sierra Leone, West Africa.

WEEKLY NEWS LETTER Issue 2 Volume 8 11-15th March 2024

Public Education / Newsletters

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4. Contd from Pg 2 the efforts of all its 54 member state Anti - Corruption Authorities and Agencies on the continent . Article 19 of the Statute establishes the ‘’Executive Committee’ ’ comprising eight elected members from the General Assembly, including a President, First Vice President, Second Vice Presidents, and five other members. They are responsible for the management and administration of the Association all have the powers necessary for the exercise o f the functions assigned to them, subject to the powers and duties expressly entrusted to the General As sembly. This Executive Committee, of which the Leadership of the ACC - SL is prestigiously a critical part, is responsible, in particular, for the coordination of the activities of the Association in general, including pres enting the annual budgets and financial statements prepared by the Secretary - General for the General Assembly for adoption. This is to examine the draft strategic plan, annual activity programs and annual action plan prepared and present same t o the General Assembly for validation. It is also to propose, if necessary, the revision of the amount o f the annual membership fees or the annual membership dues, to make recommendations, if necessary, to the General As sembly concerning the suspension or expulsion of members or the appointment of honorary members, to submit to the General Assembly the appointment of the members of the Executive Committee and the election of the President and Vice - Presidents. The Committee also proposes conditions of service for staff of the Secretariat, to as sist members per the objectives of the Association, to ensure the implementation of the objectives of the Association, to moni tor and evaluate the implementation of the Association's objectives and resolutions, etc. Page 4 By: Sylvanus Blake, PRO - ACC

3. Page 3 T he Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) has engaged and admonished the Kissy Police Division at its office as pa rt of its outreach prevention activities through public enlightenment. This engagement which was held at the Station, Kissy, Freetown on the 4 th March 2024, had its leadership and officers present and effectively participated. Making his statement, Head, Public Education Unit, Michael Sesay noted that the Commissi on notes that recurring reports has shown that both local and international assessments including the recent Afro Barometer Report, has rat- ed the Police unfavorably. He said this is a serious call for concern, considering their c ritically important role and man- date. To this end, he said is what informs the engagement to public education to enlight en, support and endear them to imbibe the values of integrity in the conduct of their duties. He spoke about the operations of the Commission including its recent activities, and enc ouraged them to support the work of the Commission by most importantly doing their work as the law exactly instruct s as law enforcement officers. Assistant Prosecutor, ACC, Georgina C. M Vincent Esq.. highlighted some offences in t he Anti - Corruption Act of 2008 (as amended in 2019), which includes abuse of office, abuse of position, soliciting or accept ing bribes, gifts among others. She disclosed that these offences attract punitive sanctions upon c onviction, including a not less than 5 year’s imprisonment or fine of not less than 50 Million (Old) Leones, or both. Senior Public Education Officer Christiana Jusu whilst admonishing the officers, encouraged them not just to eschew Corruption and Corrupt practices, but equally informed that it is their civic responsibility to report any suspected act of Corruption within our outside the precinct of their work. “You can make report to the ACC by visit ing any of our offices in Freetown or the regions in Bo, Makeni, Kenema or Port Loko, or call our toll free lines of 077985895/077986986, she disclosed. Question and answer session climaxed the event and equally brought it to its closure, as t he officers reaffirmed their commitment in the fight against corruption and promise to do their job within the confines o f the law. By: Shiaka Kamara, Public Education Officer, ACC Michael Sesay, Head of Public Education Unit, ACC, making a statement Assistant Prosecutor, ACC, Georgina C. M Vincent Esq. admonishing officers Group photo of the ACC team and police officers at the end of the engagement

1. 11th—15th March 2024 Issue 2 Volume 8 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 Anti - Corruption Strategy, hailed as "very strong" and providing a blueprint for sustainable corruption control in Sierra Leone. Through his fearlessness and tenacity, Kaifala has positioned the country on a trajectory towards enhanced accountability, effective governance, and transformative development. Kaifala's exemplary leadership has earned him widespread recognition, both locally and internationally. He has been honored with prestigious awards, including being named one of 12 "International Anti - corruption Champions" by the Department of State of the United States in 2021. Additionally, he was recognized as one of the "100 Most Influential People of African Descent" by the UN/MIPAD Initiative, among other accolades. With a legal background that includes a Bachelor of Laws Degree from Fourah Bay College and an LLM in Law and Economics from Queen Mary University of London, Kaifala's expertise is complemented by his experience as an alumnus of the Fulbright Program and an Obama Fellow. His dedication to human rights and justice, as evidenced by his scholarship at the Bernard and Audre Rappaport Centre for Human Rights and Justice, underscores his commitment to upholding the rule of law. Francis Ben Kaifala's leadership in anti - corruption reform has been characterized by innovation, integrity, and impactful results. His efforts have not only transformed the landscape of accountability in Sierra Leone but have also set a precedent for anti - corruption initiatives across Africa and beyond . C ommissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. has emerged as a transformative figure in the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone, spearheading far - reaching reforms that have garnered international acclaim. With a sophisticated background in law and a track record of exceptional leadership, Kaifala's tenure at the helm of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) has been marked by bold initiatives and tangible results. Kaifala's impact is evident in the implementation of innovative measures such as the Non - Conviction Based Asset Recovery scheme, which has led to the recovery of over Fifty Million (new) Leones (Le50,000,000.00). This surpasses all previous recovery efforts eighteen (18) years combined, prior to his leadership at the ACC underscoring the effectiveness of his approach. Central to Kaifala's strategy also, is the establishment of the Special Anti - Corruption Division of the High Court, equipped with state - of - the - art resources to exclusively handle corruption cases. This specialized focus has resulted in a significantly higher conviction rate for corruption offenses, demonstrating Kaifala's commitment to holding perpetrators accountable. His vision extends beyond immediate outcomes, as evidenced by the Fourth Generational National The Trailblazer, Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq . Contd on pg 4 By: Usman Fambuleh

2. By: Sylvanus Blake, PRO - ACC Page 2 T he Deputy Commissioner of the Anti - Corruption Commission Sierra Leone (ACC - SL) Augustine Foday Ngobie, has joined other African leaders to attend a two - day ordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of the AAACA at the ‘’El - Aurassi Hotel in Algiers, Republic of Algeria. The two - day event took place on the 5 th and 6 th March, 2024. Mr. Ngobie who represented the Commissioner of the ACC - SL Francis Ben Kaifala Esq, a deserving member of the eight - member Executive Committee, presided over and moderated the session on ‘Analyzing the Audit Report of the AAACA’ during the event. Mr. Ngobie told the story of Sierra Leone’s ongoing progressive fight against corruption at the most significant all - African anti - corruption agencies/authorities Executive Committee meeting. He charged the Executive Committee Members that ‘ ’the acid test of integrity is for us as integrity watchdog agencies/authorities to voluntarily subject ourselves to the same standards and rules. If we are to win the fight against corruption and make our countries and Africa a better place, we must not only set examples, we must set the right examples. What is happening here is a classic example of the watchman watching himself.’’ The AAACA was established to combat corruption across the African continent in October 2009 , and has its headquarters in Bujumbura, Burundi. The concept gained further momentum during the Annual General Meeting of the same authorities in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2010 . The goal was to strengthen international collaboration in the fight against corruption, aligning with the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUPCC) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) . The AAACA aims to provide a platform for African countries to tackle corruption effectively and seeks to reinforce and strengthen good governance across the continent. Based on the Statutes of the AAACA which was adopted by the Assembly of Members of 54 Heads of the African Anti - Corruption Authorities, including Sierra Leone’s ACC, in Accra, on September 18, 2013, Article 6 declares that the AAACA shall be an ‘’international, independent, non - political and non - profit organization with the main objective of bringing together authorities in charge of combat- ing corruption, fostering unity, and coordinating and intensifying cooperation between African States in the prevention and fight against corruption within the framework of the African Union. ’’ Since its establishment, the AAACA has been at the forefront of coordinating, rebranding, and redirecting ACC’s Deputy Commissioner, Augus- tine Foday Ngobie ACC’s Deputy Commissioner, Augus- tine Foday Ngobie at the Executive Committee Meeting Algeria The 12th Executive Committee Meeting of the AACA in Progress in Algieria Contd on Pg 4

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