Anti Corruption Commission schools National Fire Force on corruption issues in Kenema

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has on Tuesday the 20th August 2013 successfully held a customized sensitization meeting with officers and personnel of the NFF at their Eastern Regional Headquarter offices, Government Reservations in Kenema. The meeting which was not unique to the NFF alone has seen the ACC in the East customize with various sectors of society that are referred to as pillars of integrity in the national fight against corruption across the Eastern Region, aimed at sustainably mustering their support to the ACC.

In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Foday Baba Sesay who is second in command of the National Fire in Kenema thanked the ACC for the move to educate them on corruption issues and encouraged his personnel to be attentive to the message of the ACC, adding that the ACC has had a long standing relationship with the NFF which changed his perception about the Commission. He encouraged all his personnel to abide by the rules, resist and reject petty bribes, be punctual and committed to work and exhibit professionalism in their work.

Mohamed Sylvanus Blake, the Kenema District Coordinator of the ACC stated that the ACC is the lead agent in the national fight against corruption and as such depends on the unflinching support of all. He stated that the NFF is a pillar of integrity whose support to the ACC, like any other institution is key. He said that personnel of the NFF are public officers and as such need to be educated on corruption related issues as a preventive move, maintaining that the fight against corruption will leave no stone unturned. Blake was quick to disconnect the visit of the ACC with any corruption allegation against the NFF. He stated that personnel of the NFF should execute their functions with due respect to acceptable policies and stay away from any practices that would constitute corruption. He added that the fight against corruption is a collective drive.

The Senior Regional Public Education Officer of the ACC, Peter Baio Kamara, explained the three pronged approach used by the ACC in the fight against corruption; education, prevention and confrontation. He stated that the ACC prefers converts from corruption to convicts of corruption and as such puts more emphasis on preventing corruption than investigating and prosecuting offenders. Peter Kamara explained the practices that constitute corruption as contained in the AC Act of 2008 and the corresponding penalties if convicted and admonished all present to stay away from corruption. Peter Kamara explained the witness/informant protection and reward schemes and encouraged all present to support the ACC by resisting, rejecting and reporting corruption.

Mr. Ambrose Koroma an Investigator of the ACC in Kenema is his statement buttressed the statements made by the previous speakers adding that the minimum penalty upon conviction for each corruption offence is Thirty Million Leones (Le30,000,000.00), or three years imprisonment. He maintained that the in addition to the fines, misappropriated funds/property is recovered as a way of ensuring the state does not lose any resources. Mr. Koroma explained the various ways of reporting corruption to the ACC and called on all to stay away from graft. He called on all to stay away from corruption.

Questions and answers formed part of the meeting.

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