ACC coordinates partnership with provincial secretary’s office – north
In a bid to garner support from MDAs in the North, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday 16th November, 2011 held a customized meeting with staff of the Provincial Secretary’s office at their Conference Room, Mena Hills, in Makeni.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the meeting Mr. Abdulai Koroma Provincial Secretary, North opined that he was very much overwhelmed by the move the ACC has taken to visit his office to sensitize staff. The Provincial Secretary emphasized that the ACC goes a long way to develop Sierra Leone and that its establishment is very vital to the well being of the country. Mr. Koroma also lamented that it is not in the good interest of this country when individuals siphon State resources leaving the Nation economically weak and impoverished.
ACC’s District Coordinator Bombali, Mr. Raymond Kamara, explained that the meeting was geared towards strengthening partnership with the Provincial Secretary’s (PS) Office. Mr. Kamara stressed that the Provincial Secretary’s office was very strategic and was a representation of the Central Government at regional level. Therefore, it was very necessary for the office to give its unflinching support to the ACC.
The District Coordinator noted that ACC keeps receiving reports relating to the activities of workers in the office, but that they needed to know as ACC is merely responding to public concerns. “When the ACC succeeds in this country, a strong foundation would have been laid for posterity” Mr. Kamara concluded.
Elaborating on key corruption issues in the P.S office, ACC’s Regional Manager, North Mr. Patrick Sandi warned the workers to desist from ill-practices such as connivance with other parties, government officials to sell Government land and property and also the misuse of Government vehicles and quarters.
Manager Sandi entreated them to stop corruption and be changed persons as ‘it pays all of us a lot if corruption is wiped out in Sierra Leone.” Mr. Sandi, also indicated that the people should be willing to report corruption cases to the ACC because silence is dangerous and leads to the “how for do” syndrome. The Regional Manager admonished the workers that corruption is punishable by Law and that AC Act 2008 has up to twenty-seven offences which are all-embracing.
A few of the offences Manager Sandi highlighted as: Abuse of Office, Conflict of Interest, Peddling Influence, Misappropriation of Public and Property and Protection of Public Revenue.
Public Education Officer, North, Mr. Al-Hassan Sesay dilated on the background of the Commission, its mission, vision and mandate. Mr. Sesay told his audience that the Commission seeks the interest of every Sierra Leonean and does not discriminate or protect offenders from facing the law. He emphasized that, the Commission is not all about Investigation and Prosecution, but it educates and prevents the occurrence of corrupt practices.
The Public Education Officer reiterated that the Commission wants converts and not convicts. He added that the ACC will continue to pursue the line of sensitization in the bid to bringing more people in the army of fighting corruption. Mr. Sesay reminded the workers that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report identified corruption as one of the major causes of the Country’s eleven year war and as such it was very prudent that all came on board the anti-craft crusade so that this gloomy period will not reoccur in this country.
The meeting was climaxed with questions and answers, whilst Mr. Samuel Kamara the Chief Clerk in the Provincial Secretary’s Office moved the vote of thanks.
ACC Makeni
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