Drawing from the Commission’s strategic approach and creating the platform for citizens’ support in the fight against corruption, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Southern Region Office in Bo on Wednesday, 4th November, 2020 engaged executive members of the Drivers’ Union, Bike Riders’ Union, Traders’ Union, Kekeh Riders’ Association and the Sierra Leone Vehicle Motto Maintenance Association.
The object of the meeting was to address public concerns and complaints relating to the collection and management of revenues for their respective bodies.
The Southern Regional Manager of the ACC Musa Jawara made reference to concerns and complaints raised by the public and memberships of the unions on the manner executive members sometimes utilize their funds and the way commercial drivers and bike riders often inflate transport fairs.
He also said the Government is losing billions of Leones as stated in the last Auditor General’s Report, adding that over seven hundred billion Leones paid for licenses by the informal sectors was unaccounted for.
He informed them that twenty-one cases related to such misappropriation and embezzlement has been prosecuted by the Commission.
“Such action by the Commission is meant to send a clear signal to those who think that corruption is an essential enterprise for personal gains and aggrandizement,” he noted.
He further highlighted the cost of corruption which is inclusive of poverty, social insecurity and economic instability; things he said will have a direct ripple effect on the lives of Sierra Leoneans.
Talking on some of the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019, the Resident Regional Prosecutor, Abubakarr Sannoh Esq. said the Commission has the Authority to investigate instances of alleged or suspected cases of corruption referred to it by any person or institution.
He said the Commission also takes all steps as may be necessary for the prevention, eradication and suppression of corruption and corrupt practices.
In light of this, he said that the informal sector must ensure to use all applicable laws and procedures for the collection and management of public revenue.
Responding to complaints by members of the public on transportation inflation at the New London Motto Park, the Representative of the Drivers’ Union executive at the meeting, Mohamed Sillah, noted that they as a Union do not have any form of central control over the parks.
He said the Government is losing huge financial resources as revenues since moneys collected at the parks are not accounted for.
He claims that the cause of the status quo hinges on the strong political backings members of the said parks continue to get from politicians.
In his remarks, the Bo District Chairman of the Bike Riders’ Union, Augustine Sama, expressed appreciation to the Commission for “such a strategic and timely meeting” with them, describing the deliberations as highly fruitful and informative.
He pledged their unflinching commitment and support to the fight against corruption.
9/11/2020. ISSUE NO: 7947