The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) southern regional office has concluded the ‘Deepening Integrity in Schools’ campaign and the popularization of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Creative Art Competition in various schools in Bo.
The exercise which ran from the 19th to 23rd October, 2020 targeted seven schools: Government Secondary School, Bo, the Bo Commercial Secondary School, Queen of Rosary Secondary School, Milton Comprehensive Secondary School, Ahmadiyya Secondary School, St. Andrew’s Secondary School and St. Paul’s Secondary School.
Public Education Officer Mohamed Kabba said the competition was borne out of the Commission’s desire to bring out the creative literary skills of school children and youth.
He said such competition can influence the young generation with the right aptitude, knowledge and progressive skills that will develop their innate capacities to fight against the ills of corruption in society.
Mr. Kabba said nurturing integrity, accountability and transparency, having faith in oneself and compliance with laid down rules and procedures are fundamental values to demonstrate.
The Bo, Moyamba, Bonthe and Pujehun Districts’ Monitors attached to the ACC Southern Regional Office in Bo outlined the criteria for participating in the competition.
They told pupils of the schools that, Sierra Leoneans resident in the country and between the ages of thirteen and thirty years have equal opportunity to use Poetry, Painting or Short Video Documentary not exceeding three minutes to convey anti-corruption messages in their work.
Forms for the competition for intending competitors in Bo can be secured free of cost at the AYV Media Empire at the Bo City Plaza, SLBC Bo office and the ACC Regional Office; while completed works should be submitted to the WhatsApp number: +23230956400.
The star prize for the competition is Fifty Million Leones.
Climaxing the meetings with schools, the Senior Prefect of the St. Paul’s Secondary School encouraged pupils to seize such opportunity to “fix and button up” all loose ends of immoral behaviours.
Pupils of the other schools visited commended and appreciated the Commission for such a competition as that will inspire them to make their contributions to the national anti-corruption campaign.
They added that if children should serve as ambassadors, they must imbibe the culture and tenet of integrity.
Principals of the schools assured the Commission of their unflinching commitment and collective action to ensuring the full participation of their schools in the competition.
BY MOHAMED A. KABBA
28/10/2020. ISSUE NO: 7939