ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION

MENA HILLS, MAKENI

SIERRA LEONE, WEST AFRICA

18^th June 2014

NEWS ITEM

MAGBURAKA EMBRACES ACC IN THE CRUSADE

Educating the public on the dangers of corruption has not been limited to meeting the schools and community outreach meetings but also targets every sector of society.  The Anti-Corruption Commission Northern Region Office has in this regard held a customized meeting with staff of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), local authorities, civil society groups and non-governmental organizations at the Tonkolili District Council hall on Wednesday 18^th June 2014.

ACC’s Public Education Officer Abdulai Saccoh explaining the purpose, maintained that the meeting was part of the Commission’s strategic move to reach diverse sets of people in spreading anti-graft messages that emphasize the benefits of a corrupt free society as well as soliciting their unwavering support in the fight and to update them on the activities of the Commission across the country. Saccoh implored participants to join hands with the ACC in the fight and make the district a corruption free zone than a safe heaven for the corrupt.

Chairman Tonkolili District Council (TDC) Alusine Abdulai Sesay in his welcome statement applauded ACC for its resolve in educating the public on corruption issues and appealed for the fight to be taken to remote communities beyond Magburaka. Combating corruption is one of the strongest pillars in building a prosperous nation he stated. ” Sierra Leoneans need to fight graft if they love their nation and not self” Sesay ended.

The ACC Senior Public Education Officer Al Hassan Sesay in his presentation on the role of the public in the fight reminded all that the Commission is resolute and will stop at nothing to prosecute any offender. Sesay went on to introduce the newly appointed ACC Regional Manager North and asked for their required support. He stated that the Commission was established by the people of this country through Parliament to address the nation’s misery. The Senior Public Educator referred to graft as cancer that can destroy human existence. He stressed that most institutions are in a deplorable state due to corruption. The people and ACC he noted can only win the war against corruption through collective efforts. Senior Public Educator implored the participants to resist, reject and report any incident of corruption that they may encounter at their community and in public body. ”If you do not fight corruption, it will fight back” Sesay said.

In his addressed to the people of Magburaka on ACC and the fight against corruption in the country, ACC Regional Manager North Ibrahim Ahmad Kargbo said their presence in the meeting is a wonderful display of solidarity with ACC in holding the tenet of transparency and accountability. Manager Kargbo referred to the participants as value partners in the fight against corruption. He admitted that combating graft is a challenge but can be surmounted through shared collaboration. Manager Kargbo stressed that until every citizen is ready to renounce corruption, it will continue to be an obstacle to human survival.  He informed them that one of the mandates of the Commission is to take all steps necessary for the prevention, suppression and eradication of corruption and corrupt practice. Manager Kargbo further provided participants with a comprehensive update on the activities of ACC beginning with the executive launch of third generation of National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2014-2018, meeting with GSM operators in Freetown, recent indictments and how they should serve as warning to all, recent prosecution and number of convictions secured. He warned public officers to desist from such wicked acts, as the law is respecter of no one. Manager Kargbo entreated them to see ACC as an institution serving the nation’s interest than as a tool to witch hunt.

The meeting was chaired by ACC’s Public Education Officer Augustine Foday Ngobie and facilitated by ACC Tonkolili District Coordinator Shar Isaah Suluku.

Questions and answers formed the high point of the meeting.