– ACC Boss
By George M.O. Williams
The Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Sierra Leone, Francis Ben Kaifala has said that President Julius Maada Bio will take administrative action against the Clerk of Parliament, Hon. Paran Umar Tarawallie as the investigation continues over alleged corruption involving the Clerk of Parliament.
He made this disclosure during a press conference held on Wednesday January 24, 2024, at their Integrity House Office on Tower Hill in Freetown.
He added that the ACC had so far recovered Nle 151,000 from the wife, Abibatu Paran Tarawally, as salaries she had received as a staff of Parliament for nineteen months without going to work.
The Commission in an earlier press conference on Tuesday January 23, 2024, stated that preliminary evidence shows that there is evidence of a clear situation that would lead to conflict of interest, on the grounds that the Clerk of Parliament, Umar Paran Tarawallie had enormous authority which is not subjected to any law in terms of recruiting his wife or other relatives.
In that regard, the Commissioner said that it is provided in the law that if an individual is in a position to assert influence in the recruitment process, it should be expressed in writing by disclosing their relationship and vow not to interfere in the recruitment process, thus leaving the entire recruitment process in the hands of others.
He added that the Clerk of Parliament failed to make such declaration pursuant to section 45 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2008 amended in 2019, the provision states “Where a public body in which a public officer is a member, director, employee or is otherwise engaged proposes to deal with any company, partnership or other undertaking in which that public officer has a direct or indirect private or personal interest, that public officer shall forthwith disclose, in writing to that public body, the nature of such interest”
The Commissioner cited that Paran failed to make such declaration, therefore if such declaration and affirmation is not made by the persons in question the issue of conflict of interest will arise.
The Commissioner mentioned that through a phone call Paran Trawallie admitted that he was not aware of the existing rule on recruitment to prevent conflict of interest and went on to confirm that his wife work in Parliament but he personally did not employ her.