ACC ends meeting with integrity clubs in Makeni

As a demonstration of widening its scope of addressing corruption issues in Sierra Leone, the Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday 20^th March, 2012 concluded meeting with Integrity Clubs in Makeni.  The meetings were geared towards empowering pupils on anti-corruption measures and how they can become strong anti-corruption force.  (Photo: The executive members of St Joseph’s Integrity Club, Makeni)

The schools targeted that host integrity clubs in Makeni are St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Benevolent Islamic Secondary School, Birch Memorial Secondary School and St. Francis Secondary School.  These integrity clubs were established by the ACC in order to target children at school going age and enlist them in the fight against the menace.  In that light, the Commission has to its credit twenty-seven (27) integrity clubs nationwide, four (4) being in Makeni City.

Note worthy is that, these clubs were basically established;

1. To educate and disseminate information to the pupils in order for them to meaningfully and conscientiously participate in social and economic activities.
2. To make the pupils patriotic.
3. To encourage the pupils to be up-to-date with corruption and economic crimes.
4. To instill discipline and inculcate a sense of accountability and responsibility on the pupils.
5. To create confidence in the ACC amongst the pupils.
6. To create a future work force free from corruption and economic crime and
7. To depict corruption in the form of Art and Music.

Addressing pupils and teacher coordinators at the meetings, Public Education Officer, North, Al-Hassan Sesay pointed out that the ACC had tremendous value for the pupils and considered them as useful and strategic in combating corruption in the country.  Mr. Sesay opined that the meeting was for ACC to primarily familiarize with the Integrity Clubs membership and to further assure them of the Commission’s strong will to continue partnering with them.  Public Education Officer stressed that the Commission was expecting much from the pupils especially when they carry the tag, ACC.  This mean, Mr. Sesay furthered was for them to be upright, corrupt-free, honest and abstain from violence as this was prevalent in schools.  Mr. Sesay reiterated that the ACC is targeting the pupils because it wants to “catch them young” as they have unexplored and untapped ideas, views and mindsets.  Therefore, it was expedient that the ACC prepares their minds right enough for future placements in private and public lives.  The PEO North encouraged the pupils to remain steadfast in their determination to becoming members of ACC integrity clubs as many challenges were awaiting them.

Dilating on the way forward for the clubs, the Regional Manager, ACC North Patrick Sandi extended warm greetings from Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara Esq. and further thanked the schools’ administration for maintaining and sustaining the clubs in their establishments.  Mr. Sandi furthered that the Commission wanted to be closer to the clubs and to ensure that they interact often where possible on a weekly basis.  However, the Manager assured the clubs of ACC’s sustained support to them at all times.

Corruption, the Manager North informed pupils has caused serious damage to our societies, therefore, it was the business of everybody to partner with the ACC to curb the scourge.  Manager Sandi encouraged the pupils to resist, refrain and report corrupt acts to the ACC and also join the ACC to sensitize the different communities on the dangers of corruption.

The ACC boss North stressed to the pupils that, the ACC is an independent organization devoid of all forms of interferences as this explains the many successes the Commission continues to score as it carries out its mandate.  Manager Sandi concluded by telling the pupils that corruption was a moral issue and that things such as “long neck”, “missiles”, truancy in schools etc were all acts of wrongdoing which the Commission frowns on.  He admonished them to desist from these ill practices so that they will not transfer same in the public or private lives they shall lead.

In their contributions, the teacher coordinators of the four (4) schools; Mrs. Francess Macauley, Mr. Joseph S. Bangura, Mr. Aaron Kargbo and Mr. John Philip Kallon expressed great delight for the meeting and assured the ACC that they will effectively partner with her to see Sierra Leone become a paradise.  The teacher Coordinators brought forward good ideas that will make the clubs much more robust in their schools and communities.

The formation of the Executive body to man the affairs of the clubs in the schools, supervised by their teacher coordinators formed the high point of the meetings.

ACC Makeni

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