ACC takes the fight to Mamanka town in Bombali district

In rolling out one of the approaches to fighting corruption, the Northern Region office of the Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday held an outreach community education meeting with the indigenes of the Mamanka community, in the Gbendembu Gowahun Chiefdom, Bombali District.

Speaking on the purpose of the engagement, the ACC Manager North, Abu Bakarr Kamara maintained, that fighting corruption has three main approaches namely: education, prevention and confrontation which constitutes investigation and prosecution. He furthered, ACC was in their midst on a public education and awareness raising campaign and to solicit their much needed support in the crusade. He drew the attention of the community to the point that the effects of corruption are indiscriminate. He added that the Commission was set up to ensure that the national resources are judiciously applied and it is the collective responsibility of all to achieve that goal.

Mr. Kamara highlighted some of the effects of corruption in the country, and emphasized Sierra Leone is endowed with abundant natural resources. He admonished his audience to be watchdogs by detecting and reporting corruption.

He cited certain corruption issues that are prevalent in communities. These he said, include bribery in schools, health service workers doing personal business on hospital infrastructure, demanding kickbacks from contracts, and for inclusion in social safety net programmes and many more.

The Public Education Officer, Augustine Foday Ngobie highlighted some corruption offences prescribed in the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 and the penalties for such offences. On the role of the community in the fight against corruption, Mr. Ngobie told them that everybody should resist, reject and report any corrupt practice that may come to their notice. He informed his audience on how to report corruption and read out the ACC hotlines and assured them of the Commission’s prompt response in addressing their complaints.

Welcoming the ACC to their community, the section chief of Mamaka, Pa Komrabai Fornah expressed delight to the Commission, for their visit and expressed appreciation for considering Mamaka community as a partner in fighting the menace. He assured the Commission for their unflinching support to the anti-graft campaign.

ACC Makeni

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