The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is mandated to lead the fight against corruption through prevention, public education, enforcement, and compliance for the good of all Sierra Leone.
In keeping with its public education objectives, the Commission’s Public Education and Outreach Unit in Kono District on November 6, 2020 educated staff and students of the University of Management and Technology (UNIMTECH) in Koidu City to support the campaign against corruption.
Public Education Officer, Edward N. Blake, prefaced the anti-corruption message by giving a the genesis of ACC, saying that it was established by an Act of Parliament in 2000 in fulfilment of one of the recommendations proffered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which was set up to investigate the causes of the civil strife that ravaged the country for eleven (11) years.
The TRC report shows that the central cause of the war was endemic greed, corruption, and nepotism, and so it called for a new culture of ethics to fight the ‘scourge of corruption which saps the life-force of Sierra Leone.’
Mr. Blake added that since 2000 the Anti-Corruption Act has been amended to empower the Commission to achieve its objective of a corruption-free country to pave the way for efficient and effective public service to the citizens. He said, unlike the 2000 Act, the 2008 Act contains broader provisions including conferment of prosecutorial powers on the Commission – and now with its own court staffed with five judges within the High Court of the country. This, he stressed, allows for expediting corruption litigations in the interest of justice for the citizens.
Making reference to the amended AC Act of 2019, Blake highlighted some provisions including stiffer penalties for corruption offences and failure or refusal to comply with completing Asset Income and Liability Declaration Forms, protection of witnesses and whistleblowers, cancellation of contracts not deemed as of national interest, and criminalization of exam practices, amongst others. He said the legal strides indicate the Commission’s unflagging focus on battling corruption to the end.
So far, the Commission has chalked up significant achievements as evidenced by international indices, said Public Education Officer, Aiah Sourie, when he was making his contribution. He disclosed: ‘For example, Transparency International Global Corruption Barometer 2019 measured Sierra Leone 3rd out of 35 countries in Africa; and 1st in West Africa. The Report further records that 66% of Sierra Leoneans are confident that the Government is serious about doing battle with corruption.’ He also cited the country’s impressive 79% score on the Millennium Challenge Corporation Scorecard in 2019, 71% in 2018, as against 49% in 2017.
The laurels scored by the Commission for the country, according to him, are largely ascribed to the well-coordinated partnerships with integrity institutions, timely prevention, and increased awareness of corruption with its damning effects in mainly public offices and communities across the country. In addition, Sourie made known to the staff and students of the University that sustained national granite is probably the most effective weapon to win the fight against corruption. ‘Whilst as citizens we are heartened by the findings of the Reports I have referred to, we should tighten our common resolve to fight a common enemy – corruption. We must come together and fight in earnest,’ he maintained.
Mr. Sourie also highlighted some adverse consequences of corruption not least, poor quality of goods and services, weak governance; increased poverty and lack of equal access to public services; massive unemployment; and class division marked by the rich corrupt public officials and the deprived poor. He said, the effects of corruption would be like an albatross around the neck of the nation if the fight against the scourge was not taken seriously.
Considered as prospective public officials upon completion of their courses, the students were urged to stand obstinately and repulse any temptation to corruption within and out of the University. They were further encouraged by the ACC team to work as hard as they could to earn their grades and not just to own them. The anti-corruption crusaders further asserted that grades should represent learned concepts; unfortunately they now often believe learning amidst pervasive exam malpractices across learning institutions.
Maseray Mansaray, the Registrar of UNIMTECH in the District, on behalf of her colleagues thanked the ACC for its leadership in fighting corruption, and called for subsequent engagements with the University. She pledged the support of her institution to the ACC at all times, in order to rid the country of corruption.
This engagement with UNIMTECH followed an earlier one with the Government Technical Institution at Dorman, all in a bid by the Commission to raise awareness on corruption in Tertiary institutions within Kono District.
By Hasbin Shaw
10/11/2020. ISSUE NO: 7948