In a bid to account to the people of Sierra Leone on the work of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Deputy Commissioner Augustine Foday Ngobie and Coordinator of Operations ACC, Emmanuel Koivaya Amara Esq. on Saturday 9th January 2021 engaged a cross section of the media, civil society and religious leaders in Kenema on the work of the Commission in 2020 and plans for 2021.
Section 5(2) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 as Amended in 2019, provides that: “…the Commissioner shall account to the people of Sierra Leone for the conduct of the national campaign against corruption.’’
Speaking during the engagement, the Deputy Commissioner informed the gathering that the ACC prides itself in accountability by way of giving stewardship to the State and the people of Sierra Leone of the fight against corruption.
He described 2020 as a monumental year in the fight against corruption as several breathtaking and astounding milestones were bagged both within and outside the country.
Key among them are; recovery and payment of Eight Billion Leones to the Government, recovery of assets which were proceeds of corruption, high rate of conviction, responding swiftly and decisively to the Auditor General’s Reports for 2018 and 2019 and COVID19 Audit Report, 2020, making another remarkable pass in the ‘Control of Corruption’ indicator in the MCC to 81 %, remarkable progress in the Afro Barometer Report and Transparency International Corruption Perception Survey and the National Corruption Perception Survey done by the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL).
Mr. Ngobie said that the Commission took the fight against corrupt in a manner never seen before, especially as seen in the non-conviction assets recovery strategy (out of court settlement agreements), which resulted in the recovery of Billions of Leones and fixed and movable assets from those who attempted to pillage State resources. “We are going after their wealth to ensure they do not profit from their corrupt activities so that citizens do not lose what rightly belongs to them,” said the Deputy Commissioner.
He said that the Commission will continue to press even harder in 2021 against the corrupt and do so with all fairness. “If there is anyone who will have to retreat, I’m convinced it must be the corrupt and not the ACC. This fight moves on,” he warned emphatically.
He encouraged religious leaders to continue to warn their congregants to stay away from corrupt practices for the fear of God Almighty, love for country and respect for law, adding that the National Perception Survey report recognizes religious leaders as highly venerated by their congregants.
In his statement, the Coordinator of Operations Emmanuel Koivaya Amara Esq. espoused on the provisions in the AC Amendment Act 2019 that allows for the Commission to charge to court after investigation or enter into settlement agreement with a suspect to fully refund funds stolen or misappropriated.
Explaining the rationale behind the out of courts agreement, Mr. Amara said, when, for instance, the money meant to provide food for one’s family is stolen, the priority for that family will be to catch the thief and recoup the stolen money for the family’s ultimate survival. What happens next to the thief by way of recompensing justice will be a matter for the law and due processes, he said.
He assured all that the ACC shall not compromise diligence, fairness, objectivity and thoroughness in dealing with all allegations of corruption.
He said the Commission will continue to make rigorous interventions into issues flagged in the 2019 Auditor General’s Report and the COVID-19 Audit Report 2020 and shall surely continue to inform the public promptly.
Augustine Sannoh, Chairman of Civil Society Movement East, heaped praises on the Commission for the remarkable gains made by the Commission in the recent past. He charged the ACC not to drop its guards or reduce the pace. He also admonished the ACC to name and shame all those who against all the odds continue to wreck havoc on the economy and people of this nation. He assured the ACC of their continued support to the anti-corruption campaign.
James Jamel Fatorma, Chairman Media Alliance against Corruption-East, thanked the ACC for the updates and urged the Commission to continue to distinguish itself positively in the fight against corruption no matter who, what and how much is involved. Corruption any where is a threat to national development, he noted.
The ACC’s Deputy Commissioner and Coordinator of Operations held an interactive and educative radio discussion programme simulcast across four radio stations in Kenema-SLBC 93.5, Kamboi Agriculture Radio, Vote FM and Njaluahun Radio in Segbwema.
By Sylvanus Mohamed Blake
8/01/2021. ISSUE NO:7975