ACC educates MAFFS staff in Makeni

As a mark of its determination and resilience to eliminate graft in public sector entities, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Northern Regional Office has on Monday 16th September 2013, thoroughly sensitized staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) in Bombali District on the hazards of corruption.

Addressing his audience at the engagement in the Ministry’s Hall Agriculture Road Makeni, the District Agriculture Officer (DAO) Bombali Mr. Aiah J. Thorlie who doubled as the Chairman, commended the ACC for the move as it was very timely. Mr. Thorlie re-echoed that the ACC is not an enemy of the people, but was around to ensure sanity and probity in systems. The DAO Bombali maintained that without the ACC operating in Sierra Leone, we would imagine the kind of society we will find ourselves. He encouraged his staff to partner with the Commission for the good of the country. Mr. Thorlie gave a synopsis of his department’s work in the district, noting among other things that the district is with a workforce of one hundred and eighty (180) and six (6) agricultural blocks. The DAO outlined the many challenges faced by the staff and pleaded with the ACC for intervention.

Espousing on the rationale for the engagement, the Senior Public Education Officer ACC Mr. Al-Hassan Sesay said, the Commission was raising awareness on the bad effects of corruption and soliciting public support in the campaign. Mr. Sesay stressed that if corruption was to destroy the fabric of the Ministry it will inflict a heavy blow on the country as there will be no food and livestock for the people to eat. The Senior Public Education Officer advised the officers to carry out their jobs diligently. ‘Sierra Leone has huge and lofty agricultural potential, but the benefits will not be realized, if corruption takes centre stage’ Mr. Sesay emphasized. The Senior Public Educator pleaded with MAFFS staff to change their corrupt behaviors, opinions, attitudes, thoughts and mentality so that the country will be corrupt-free flowing with milk and honey.

Speaking on the corruption crimes and how to collaborate with the Commission to defeat corruption, the ACC Regional Manager North Mr. Patrick Sandi lamented on the laissez faire attitude of some Government employees, who are only interested in receiving salaries at the end of the month, without producing results. Mr. Sandi cautioned such people and told them to desist forthwith as the ACC frowned on such practices.

The ACC boss North highlighted key corrupt acts such as misappropriation of public/donor funds and property, soliciting and accepting advantage, abuse of office and position, peddling influence, conflict of interest, protection of public revenue and property, conspiracy to commit a corruption offence and receiving gifts for a corrupt practice.

If anybody commits a corruption offence he shall pay a fine of not less than thirty million Leones (Le 30,000,000) or go to jail for not less than three (3) years or suffer both.

‘The Ministry is very important to nation building that was why the ACC thought it essential to have its operations hinged on transparency and accountability’, Mr. Sandi reiterated.

The Regional Manager admonished MAFFS staff to be content at all times since over- ambition largely causes persons to be involved in corrupt acts as they would be indulged to satisfy their wants.

Speaker to speaker appealed to Government for improvement in workers conditions of service as it will go a long way to addressing the key causes of corruption.

Questions and answers climaxed the engagement.

ACC Makeni

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