ACC targets major stakeholder within business sector
Sierra Leone Traders Union, NRA, and the Councils in Bombali District – As the Anti-Corruption Commission Sierra Leone intensifies its public education campaign which is also a preventive approach to the fight against corruption in the country; the Commission’s Northern Regional Office on Friday 30th September 2011 engaged major stakeholders within the Business Sector, the Councils, National Revenue Authority and The Sierra Leone Traders Union in a customized meeting aimed at addressing corruption issues prevalent in the workings of these organizations. The meeting was held at their Northern regional office parlour Mena Hills in Makeni. (Photo: Al Hasan Sesay making his presentation)
The meeting also geared towards seeing that the Commission brings together business stakeholders and other revenue generating structures to partner with the Commission in the fight against corruption especially in the area of the promotion of revenue generation within the District.
Declaring the purpose of the meeting, Mr. Raymond Alieu Kamara, the ACC Coordinator – Bombali District solicited the participants’ support and cooperation in the fight against graft as the Commission is the people’s Commission and with their support the country will achieve the vision of the ‘Agenda for Change’ and a corrupt free society for a one for all, and all for one Sierra Leone. He strongly encouraged members of the business sector, Sierra Leone Traders Union, National Revenue Authority and the Councils to partner with the Commission. He encouraged the stakeholders to partner with the Commission in the fight against corruption, as partnership is one of the core values of the Commission in achieving its vision.
Cross section of the audience listening to ACC staff
“We have all what it takes to develop this country like other developed countries, but we all have a collective responsibility in seeing that Sierra Leone becomes a corrupt free society” says Raymond Kamara.
He reiterated that, corruption is a cancer that has destroyed the fabric of society, so there is every need to work hard to avoid posterity holding us responsible for the backwardness of the country. He further highlighted a series of corrupt practices perpetrated by business people and other organizations in the execution of their services in their day-to-day activities such as: fake contracts, fake receipts, fake business licenses, boycotting taxes with more emphasis on the Goods and Services Tax (GST), non compliance with the registration of employees by employers with NASSIT, boycotting procurement procedures, conspiring with officers in inflating prices for procurement of goods and services, procurement and supply of sub-standard items, clientism to mention but a few. He informed them the State is losing huge sums of money through these ill-practices as these resources would have been used in the development of the country by the provision of basic social services. “If only we can come together and help track these leakages, Sierra Leone would change its identity as a donor orphan society as we have all what it takes to move Sierra Leone to another level in the development agenda. Mr. Raymond Alieu Kamara, ACC Coordinator – Bombali encouraged them to desist from such practices as the Commission will not compromise with any defaulter. He stressed that it is in the spirit of nationalism that these bodies should partner with the Commission in the fight against corruption. He cautioned Councils, National Revenue Authority and business stakeholders to work in line with government policies and procedures in carrying out transactions, and desist from duplicating payments for services which is not only unacceptable by the Commission but an offence under the Anti-Corruption law.
In his presentation, the Public Education Officer, Mr. Al- Hassan Sesay of ACC, gave an overview of the Commission, its establishment, mandate, vision and the three pronged approaches the Commission employs in the fight against corruption, which are; Public Education, Prevention and Confrontation.
He further admonished them on the increase in the number of the corruption offences from nine (9) in the AC Act 2000 to twenty seven (27) in the AC Act 2008, which tells you the seriousness and current robust posture of the Commission in the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Sesay went on to define corruption, and further provided instances of how evil corruption is, and in turn solicited their support to join the Commission in leading the fight against corruption for a greater benefit of all.
Unfolding some of the 27 offences as contained in the AC Act 2008, Misappropriation of Public Funds or Property, Misappropriation of Donor Funds or Property, Abuse of Office, Abuse of Position, Protection of Public Revenue, Possession of an unexplained wealth, Offering, Soliciting and Accepting advantage, Corrupt acquisition of wealth, Gifts, to name but a few, are of great concern to the Commission, says Mr. Joseph Bockarie Noah of ACC North.
He further spoke on the information the Commission gets from the public about some members of the business sector which relates to their involvement in ill practices that leads to the country losing huge resources which is not good at all. Mr. Noah emphasized that the Commission also has the mandate to investigate persons who are not public officers. He told them that there is no magic in investigation, if there is no enough evidence, there is no way you manufacture one , so he encouraged them to improve on their image for the good of all citizenry.
The Regional Manager Patrick Sandi who also chaired the meeting told participants how to report corruption and assured them of the Commission’s protection and confidentiality measures. He gave them the ACC free hotlines they could use to report corruption.
He maintained that there is 10% reward for informants which they get from the proceeds of any corruption or corrupt practice reported to the Commission.
In his conclusion, Manager Sandi encouraged them to partner with the Commission and feel free to come to the Commission’s office in the different regional headquarter towns and liaise with the district coordinators to make enquiries and/or reports. Mr. Patrick Sandi, Regional Manger – North expressed his appreciation for the openness and valuable inputs made by participants in the meeting and assured them that the issues raised in the meeting will be addressed by the Commission as the Commission will take all information very important.
Mr Sheku Kebe Head NRA North giving assurances that his institution will partner with the ACC
Mr. Sheku Kebe Head of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) North pledged his institution’s support to the fight and stressed that he will at all times inform the ACC when he is faced with difficulties in carrying out his duties, especially with the business people who evade and fail to pay taxes.
Questions and answers climaxed the Engagement.
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