By: Abubakarr Turay
The Acting Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Shollay Davies, on Monday 18th January 2015 handed over the cash prize of Five Million Leones each to the two recipients of the Commission’s 2015 National Integrity Awards. The winners of the 2015 award are the Auditor General of the Audit Service, Sierra Leone, Lara Taylor-Pearce and a retired public health worker, Sylvanus Boima. The handing over ceremony took place at the Commission’s Conference Room in Freetown. Mr. Davies described the award as part of the policy of the Commission to recognise those who have demonstrated impeccable character in public life. “This is to show that we do not only go after the corrupt, but also recognise those who have stood tall in society,” he noted. The Acting Commissioner congratulated the awardees and stated that the fair process in the selection of the winners made the public to resonate very well with them. He said the Commission would in future be inviting them to give talks in public events in a bid to inspire others, especially the young people.
Receiving the prize, Mrs. Taylor-Pearce said she felt elated, especially so when the nomination came from members of the public. “This kind of award is far greater than any financial gains one might make,” she stated. She said it is important that the ACC is recognizing people with integrity as there are many challenges to those who vow to uphold the tenets of integrity in society.
Sylvanus Boima also expressed his delight and happiness in receiving the award and vowed to continue to live the kind of life for which he was awarded. He assured the Commission of his readiness to help in nurturing the young people to enable them develop corrupt-free minds. Mr. Boima said, being a visually impaired person, he would use the prize money to help him buy a vehicle to enable his movement. He made a plea for the establishment of a special court for anti-corruption cases.
Earlier, the Director of Public Education and Outreach, Koloneh Sankoh, welcomed the awardees and presented them to management. She said the National Integrity Awards has helped to showcase people who have made great contributions to national development and also lived lives worthy of emulation.
