ACC Encourages Bike Riders To Reject And Report Corruption
The Regional Manager of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) North, has pleaded with bike riders plying the routes in the Northern Region to reject and report corrupt acts perpetrated by public officers in the traffic sector, as they constitute an offence.
Speaking at an engagement with bike riders on Tuesday 14th May 2013 at the Association’s office Station Road Makeni, Mr. Patrick Sandi postulated that the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 clearly makes it an offence for anybody who offers an advantage to a Public Officer or any member of a Public Body in order to induce him/her. He reminded the riders that the 2008 Act is not just for government employees but encompasses the private sector also. The Commission has the mandate to investigate all forms of corruption, no matter the amount of money or individual involved in it, the Regional Manager stressed.
Manager Sandi admitted that the Bike Riders Association is very strategic in the fight against corruption, noting that one of the things they should address as an Association is offering of bribes and plying the routes with unlicensed and uninsured bikes. He lamented on the huge loss of revenue by Government as a result of failure by riders to license their bikes (okadas). The Regional Manager highlighted some of the offences in the 2008 Act that are related to the operations of riders like, protection of public revenue and property, offering advantage, corrupting a public officer and receiving advantage for and on behalf of public officers. He therefore encouraged the executive members and riders to obey traffic rules and respect the law.
Manager Sandi maintained that the penalties for each of the offences in the Act is a fine of not less than thirty million Leones or prison term of not less than three years or both.
Advancing the rationale for the outreach, ACC’s District Coordinator, Mr.
Abdulai Saccoh opined that it was meant to educate the association on the dangers of corruption and solicit their support in the fight against corruption in the country. He told his listeners that ACC alone cannot successfully fight corruption in the country and therefore called on all the riders to partner with the Commission.
Mr. Saccoh furthered that the ACC is not in existence just to arrest and convict corrupt individuals but also to sensitize the masses on the dangers of corruption and the benefits of a corrupt free society.
“The progress of Sierra Leone is in our hands. We owe it to our children and posterity to make the country free from corruption and corrupt practices”, Mr. Saccoh emphasized.
In his address, Regional Secretary General Bike Riders Association, Mr. Issa Turay thanked the ACC team for enlightening them on the dos and don’ts as enshrined in the AC Act 2008, but seriously lamented on the delays encountered in securing licenses from the SLRTA office in Makeni. He urged his colleagues to adhere to the admonishments and do what is lawful and right. The Secretary General assured the Commission that they will continue to partner in the bid to erase corruption in Sierra Leone.
Questions and answers, comments, concerns and suggestions formed part of the interaction.
ACC Makeni
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