21 January, 2021 (232News)
FREETOWN – The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Education and Outreach Department in Kono has recruited stakeholders in Wordu Community, Sumijifeh Section, Sandor Chiefdom, to actively fight against corruption to foster integrity in local public service delivery and development.
The engagement, which took place at the community’s local court on 13th January 2021, is an integral part to the Commission’s strides to empower Sierra Leoneans to make conscious decision to get rid of every form of corruption in the country. This effort is channeled through the provision of relevant information and education on corruption and the activities of the Commission.
In her keynote statement, Hawanatu O. Kamara, Manager of the ACC office in the District, enumerated the several adverse effects of corruption. She said corruption has been a present and dangerous threat to development efforts in the country, and every citizen should consider teaming up with the ACC to achieve its vision for the common good.
She said, graft deprives Government of huge amounts of public funds. By the same token, potential investors are frightened away while illegal enterprises tend to strive unchecked. She added that corruption worsens poverty and creates a class of people with ill-gotten wealth and immense political clout. She said, such ugly situations were part of the reasons why the 11-year civil strife in the country broke out.
Mrs. Kamara however assured the community leaders that endemic corruption has met with stout resistance from the ACC and its many partners. She revealed that ever since its establishment in 2000, the Commission has impressively evolved to gain greater powers to deliver on its campaign against corruption. ‘But then it is important to note that stakeholders like you have a part to play in the fight,’ she implored.
There is an urgent need for a sustained national drive to bring corruption to its barest minimum within the public and private sectors. This is so, according to the Manager, because the ACC cannot subdue corruption all alone as the task would be too daunting to finish. ‘The Commission is working in the interest of every Sierra Leonean; it is the People’s Commission, and I ask that you give it your fullest support in your locality,’ she concluded.
In his contribution, Senior Investigation Officer, Alpha G. Koroma, made clear that besides the fact that the ACC empowers communities with education to resist and reject corruption, it also investigates and prosecutes persons alleged to have been involved in corruption. Prosecution, he added, is however based on evidence as the Commission maintains a high level of professionalism in carrying out its mandate.
He made reference to the Commission’s latest Amended Act of 2019 as a bold sign of commitment to fighting corruption in the country. Investigator Koroma explained that the Act provides for stiffer penalties and protection of corruption whistleblowers and witnesses, among other things. ‘The Commission works within the law to achieve its goals, and I encourage all of you as leaders to follow standard practices regarding your respective positions,’ he said.
Public Education Officer ACC Kono, Aiah Sourie, updated the stakeholders on the Commission’s recent achievements especially with regards the cash and property recovered and activities within the District. He assured his audience that the Commission is determined to carry on with its work without fear or favour in the interest of the all Sierra Leoneans, and support from the local level to the cause could not be discounted by any means.
Earlier, Patrick Hinga George, Social Safety Net Monitor attached to the ACC office in Kono, encouraged all and sundry in the meeting to report corruption to the ACC. He highlighted the importance of reporting corruption, stressing, that could be easily done by dialing 515 on Orange and Africel mobile networks. He however warned that reporting should not be made on the basis of malice.
In response, the Town Chief of Wordu, Sahr P. Sankor, thanked the ACC team for visiting and sharing vital information on corruption and the Commission’s strides to tackle it across the country. Chief Sankor opined that continuous ACC engagement with his community would create significant change in the behaviour of locals with respect to the struggle against corruption. ‘We have been well informed and we will do our best to join the ACC rid our beloved country of corruption.’
Similar sentiments were expressed by John T. Kanessie, the Youth Leader, Imam Shehu Kabba, and Hawa Mondeh, the ‘Mammy Queen’.
Another awareness-raising engagement was also conducted in Mansofenia, Neya Chiefdom in Falaba District and in Yaryah, which is a community situated three miles away from Wordu.
