Police Top Bribery and Corruption Chart in Sierra Leone
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has released the second Pay No Bribe Report on bribe taking by public sector officials and responses from Ministries, Department and Agencies cover the period January to June 2017
Making a PowerPoint presentation at the Government press briefing in the conference room of the Ministry of Information and Communication Youyi Building in Freetown, the Deputy Director of Public Education and Outreach, Patrick Sandy said the PNB is an online reporting platform adding that the first phase ended in March 2017 and covered the health, education, water, electricity and law enforcement (Police) sectors, with district support mechanisms in Bo, Bombali, Kenema District and the Western area.
He stated that PNB encourages members of the public to report to not only report when they have been asked to pay a bribe by public officials, whether or not they paid it.
The Deputy Director maintained that PNB captures data trends on corruption in the public sector and mentioned that the ACC also shares detailed reports on monthly trends with the relevant Government of Sierra Leone MDA’S who are using this data to resolve corruption issues at source through administrative action or policy reforms.
He explained that for the period January to June 2017, a total of 19,437 PNB reports were received adding that of these 14,696 (76%) of reports indicated “I paid a bribe” and disclosed that 3, 3365 (17%) reported they “Didn’t pay a bribe and 1,376 (7%) reported that they “Met an honest official”.
He further disclosed that 41% of these reports concerned the Police Force, 29% health officials, 19 education sector officials, 4% electricity officials and 2% water sector officials. “Though the Police Force tops the “I pay a bribe” but he quickly mentioned that there has been a percentage improvement of 7.7%, down from 48.7% of all reports in quarter one adding that there is also progress in the percentage of “I Did not Pay a Bribe”.
He advanced that PNB is led jointly by the ACC and the office of the Chief of Staff and was integral to the President Recovery Priorities under improving governance in the public sector and whispered that the platform is funded by GOSL and UK Aid.
Saidu Konton Sesay, Chief of Staff said Government remains committed to the PNB campaign and will play its part in ensuring the cooperation of MDA’s and dilated that the beauty of the PNB system is that it has enabled MDA’s to direct their resources more efficiently towards developing robust responses against institutionalized corruption.
The Commissioner, ACC, Ade Macauley Esq. reinforces the view that bribery hinders effective service delivery. “As the general public gain confidence in the PNB system being an anonymous reporting channel we hope that they will make more regular use of the 515 free line and online platforms to report corruption in the delivery of public services”.
By Abdulai Mento Kamara
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2017, https:. All rights reserved.
