ACC engages heads of schools and councilors in Magburaka
In its determination to spread anti-corruption messages across the Northern Region, the Northern Regional office of the Anti-Corruption Commission has on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th May 2011 held sensitization meetings with Principals and Headmasters of Schools in Kholifa Rhowalla Chiefdom and Councilors of the Tonkolili District Council.
Giving an overview of the Commission during the respective meetings in Magburaka, ACC’s District Coordinator for Tonkolili, Abdulai Saccoh emphasized that the fight against corruption is a national concern noting that ACC alone cannot fight corruption in the country. Explaining the rationale for holding such meetings, he said it was meant to educate them on the dangers of corruption, work of the Commission, how corrupt practices in their operations can hinder the development of education and their wards and how they can join the fight against corruption.
Saccoh emphasized that the engagement was part of the Commission’s public education and preventive approach in the fight against corruption. He said as key stakeholders, the Commission decided to engage them to discuss key corruption issues and map out ways to address them. The District Coordinator stressed that the Commission is not just bent on arresting and prosecuting corrupt individuals but also changing the corrupt behavior, opinion, attitude and thoughts of people.
Speaking on the offences and penalties as contained in the 2008 Act, Public Education Officer, Al-Hassan Sesay informed heads of schools and councilors that the Act is not just for government employees but also covers the private sector. He said the Commission has the mandate to investigate all forms of corruption, no matter the amount of money or individual involved in it. Sesay explained various offences which are common in the localities and emphasized that the punishment for such offences is a fine of not less than thirty (30) million Leones or imprisoned for not less than three (3) years or suffer both fine and prison term.
He highlighted key corrupt practices taking place in schools and some sectors of their communities which he noted are obstacles for development.
Mr. Sesay emphasized that the ACC is not witch hunting anybody or institution but intervening wherever there are possible loopholes for corruption. He therefore called on heads of schools and councilors to desist from corrupt practices and change their negative attitudes for the development of Sierra Leone.
In her address, Public Education Officer Fatmata Finda Bockarie explained the various methods of making reports to the Commission and protection of informers. She emphasized the Commission’s core value of confidentiality and professionalism and stressed that if the fight against corruption is to succeed, they must be ready to resist, reject and report corruption.
The Public Education Officer urged members of both communities to report any act of corruption to the ACC Regional Office at 61 Rogbaneh Road in Makeni or through the Commission’s mobile hotlines.
In his welcome address at the meeting for heads of schools, Deputy Director of Schools, Tonkolili District Mr. Umar Alusine Bah expressed appreciated to ACC for bringing the Commission closer to them. He noted that such engagement will go a long way to minimize corruption in the schools. The Deputy Director praised the Commission for according them the opportunity to learn more about the Commission and what they should not do.
Chairman of the Tonkolili District Council Augustine A.R. Koroma promised on behalf of his councilors to join the Commission in the fight against corruption for the development of Sierra Leone. He assured the Commission that they will abide by the warnings and stand firm against any act of corruption in the Council and their respective wards.
The meetings were climaxed by questions and answers sessions.
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