By: Alex A. Bah, Ag. Public Relations Officer, ACC
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has engaged the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Sierra Leone, Fredrick Hans Ampiah, in a high-level courtesy meeting held at the UNDP Conference Room, Old Main Motor Road, Wilberforce. The engagement, held today 24th September, 2025 focused on exploring opportunities for strengthening collaboration in advancing the fight against corruption.
In his statement, ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. stressed the centrality of compliance and reform in Sierra Leone’s anti-corruption drive. He particularly highlighted the absence of a dedicated Whistleblower Regulation a key factor affecting Sierra Leone’s performance in international anti-corruption rankings.
“Even though I have always said in international conferences that the Anti-Corruption Act contains adequate provisions to protect whistleblowers, the absence of a standalone policy has not reflected well for us internationally. That is why we developed the Regulation placed in the House of Parliament,” Commissioner Kaifala explained. He added that while considering possible partners to support the implementation of the policy, UNDP naturally came to mind, and, coincidentally, the UNDP team had also been thinking in that same direction.
The Commissioner further expressed the Commission’s desire to formalize its partnership with UNDP through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which would provide a structured framework for continued collaboration, alignment of priorities, and delivery of impactful anti-corruption reforms.
In response, UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Ampiah commended the ACC for its “fantastic” progress in building systems of integrity nationwide since 2018. He underscored the timeliness of the engagement, noting that the UNDP stands ready to continue supporting Sierra Leone’s anti-corruption work. He assured possibilities for something bold, big, and transformative with the ACC, particularly in strengthening whistleblowing systems, ensuring compliance, and embedding sustainability in accountability reforms.
The meeting also featured contributions from the ACC’s Coordinator of Operations Patrick Sandi, and UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative, Kevin Petrini, among others. Both reinforced the value of practical next steps, including assessments under the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) process to identify opportunities for resource mobilization beyond current funding and to develop transformative reforms that can yield long-term impact.
The engagement concluded with Commissioner Kaifala presenting the Commission’s key priorities which the Commission intends to accomplish. Both institutions reaffirmed their shared vision of a corruption-free Sierra Leone, rooted in integrity, compliance, and bold reform.
