ACC Solicits Support From Library Board Staff In Makeni
The Northern Regional Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has appealed to staff of the Sierra Leone Library Board in Makeni to join the fight against corruption in a bid to ensure that the socio-economic needs of Sierra Leoneans are realized. (Photo: Elizabeth Braima Principal Library Assistant Makeni making a salient contribution at the engagement )
This appeal was made at a customized meeting with staff of the Library in Makeni on Thursday 25th April 2013. ACC’s Senior Public Education Officer Mr. Al-Hassan Sesay opined that the fight against corruption is a fight for all citizenry and should not be viewed as a struggle for the Commission alone. He entreated staff of the Library to see the fight as the collective responsibility of all that underpins coalition building and partnership. Mr. Sesay noted that it is only by team work that the Commission would succeed in achieving its mandate of eradicating corruption in the country.
The Senior Public Education Officer further informed Library Board staff that the meeting was part of the public education approach in fighting corruption, which entails enlightening the participants on the dangers of corruption and how corrupt practices in their operations can impact negatively on the development of the country. He dilated on the Commission’s three main approaches employed in the fight against the pandemic.
In his address, the Northern Regional Manager of ACC Mr. Patrick Sandi reminded staff of Library Board that their role in ensuring that education is improved and enhanced in the North is very strategic to the development of Sierra Leone. That was why he went on, they have to do the right thing, provide the correct services the people/clients need in order to achieve quality education and broaden the knowledge base of pupils and students. Manager Sandi lamented that the fight against corruption is difficult because corruption is always fighting back, but noted that those benefiting from it are fewer and powerful than those suffering from it. He therefore emphasized on public support and solidarity with the Commission.
The Regional Manager explained some of the offences in the AC Act 2008 that have bearing on the work of Library staff like offering, soliciting and accepting bribes, misappropriation of donor/public funds and property, conflict of interest, abuse of office or position, protection of public property and revenue, peddling influence and receiving gifts for corrupt purposes. He disclosed that the punishment for any of the offences is a fine of not less than thirty (30) million Leones or imprisonment for not less than three (3) years or both fine and prison term.
Manager Sandi explained the various methods of making reports to the Commission and entreated them to report all forms of corruption. He emphasized on the Commission’s core principles of confidentiality and the fullest protection of informants. He read out the free ACC mobile hotlines and outlined to them the benefits of making report and the 10% reward to informers, but however cautioned against making false report which he said, also constitutes an offence.
Speaking on the mode of collaboration, the Northern Regional Manager called for information sharing between both institutions. He also emphasized the need to enhance collaboration, partnership and support to the Commission’s work. Manager Sandi called on Library Board staff North to resist and reject corruption. “We have to be sincere and honest in this fight so that we can lay a solid foundation for posterity. Let’s continue to stay together, focused and united because it is only together we can win the fight” he emphasized.
Earlier in his welcome address, Regional Librarian Mr. Foday B. Seisay, who chaired the meeting, appreciated the efforts of ACC in fighting graft in the country. He underscored the point that the perception held by most people was that ACC is just for investigations, arrests and witch hunt, which was not the case; but therefore lauded the educational approach used by the Commission. Mr. Seisay pledged on behalf of his staff their continued support to the work of ACC. He noted that educating them will serve as a guide to be on the right track and requested the Commission to be sensitizing them regularly.
Madam Elizabeth Braima Principal Library Assistant, who delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of staff, thanked the ACC for educating them on the offences and the ills of corruption. She assured the Commission that they would adhere to the warnings and put into practice all what they learnt.
Questions, answers, comments and the presentation of ACC literature to the Library formed part of the meeting.
ACC Makeni
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