ACC and Ombudsman strengthen complaints and discipline boards

Complaints and Discipline Boards were established to address issues of administrative injustices and unfair treatments levied on employees and other victims within Ministries Departments and Agencies. However, the efficacy of such boards has been questioned. Many public officers are not well informed about where to channel their complaint if they are treated unfairly. To address this challenge, the ACC and the Ombudsman Sierra Leone recently conducted a regional tour to investigate and unravel the challenges and obstacles towards the effectiveness of the complaint and discipline boards.

Administrative injustice and redress mechanism have long been issues bordering a lot of middle class Sierra Leoneans. Many working class people hold the view that the interest of employees is not well protected, instead, employers are most times seen as demigods that have the free volition to administer and run their institutions or organizations in a manner that suit them. However, such an assumption is untrue. Besides the establishment of the ombudsman, there have been complaints and discipline boards established in Ministries, Departments and Agencies to look into issues of administrative injustices and other unfair treatments meted on officials of a particular establishment. The question now that comes to mind is, are these complaints and discipline boards in existence? If yes, have they been effective and efficient? This is the rationale why the Anti-Corruption Commission through the Policy and Ethics Unit conducted an inception meeting for the revitalization and strengthening of complaints and discipline board, earlier this month, at the Head Office of the Ombudsman Sierra Leone.

In his opening statement, the Director, Systems and Processes Review Department, Mr. Maurice Williams postulated that a year ago the Anti-corruption Commission had received funds to implement good governance programs to foster and strengthen the fight against corruption. As part of such programs, Mr. Williams continued that the Commission had received funds from European Union (EU) for the revitalization and strengthening of complaints and discipline boards that are in existence in institutions, and the establishment of same where they do not exist. Explaining why the involvement of the Ombudsman, Mr. Williams stated that, the Ombudsman is the appropriate institution that is widely known of handling complaints before any other government established institutions. Realizing such an important role, the ACC deemed it fit to partner with the Ombudsman because it can aptly implement such a project in accordance with fairness and impartiality. Mr. Williams further emphasized that once the project commences, the involvement of the Ombudsman would ensure that the complaints and discipline boards be effective and efficient as they have the mandate to execute such statutory provisions. The Director, Systems and Processes Review Department further mentioned that most people are aggrieved and yet do not know where to get redress. Mr. William continued that the project’s rationale is to actually establish a redress mechanism, where aggrieved persons can seek redress. In his conclusion, Mr. Williams said together the project could be achieved as policies would be developed to guide the complaint and discipline boards to know how to redress such grievances and know which referrals to make. The Director mentioned the brilliant work the Commission had done for Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) such as the service charters, best practice guide, code of ethics for public officers and a guide in the use of government properties.

Mr. Abdulai Senesie, the Principal Public Relation Officer, Ombudsman Sierra Leone applauded the initiative and further commented that it is a step in the right direction. He explained the challenges they are having with other institutions that have established complaints and discipline boards. However, with such program to revitalize and strengthen their operation would to a greater extent avail opportunities to complainant and aggrieved persons to know where to seek redress when they are meted with unfair treatment.

The principal Investigator, Mr. Alhaji Mansaray, said they would like to effectively work with the Commission in this direction as it falls within the statutory provisions and mandate of the Ombudsman. Mr. Mansaray continued that the initiative is very important as creating an effective and efficient complaints and discipline board is a positive step towards good governance which would create consciousness and understanding among aggrieved persons.

To actualize such an objective, a team of ACC staff and Ombudsman Sierra Leone visited the regional offices in Kenema, Bo and Makeni. The team was able to get first hand information regards the challenges and obstacles towards the effectiveness of such complaint boards. Meetings and radio discussion programs were conducted to sensitize the public on the role and responsibility of the Ombudsman Sierra Leone.

Invariably, to ensure that such complaint and discipline boards once more gain momentum, the Anti-corruption Commission and the Ombudsman Sierra Leone would develop a working document to address such challenges and obstacles. Once this document is done, the public sector is assured of a redress mechanism to address aggrieved persons.

By: Joseph Kangaju

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