The Public Education and Outreach Unit of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Northern Regional Office on Wednesday, 20th August 2025, engaged staff of the Senior District Officer’s (SDO) Office in Bombali as part of efforts to heighten public awareness on corruption and seek institutional support in combating the menace. The engagement took place at the District Office’s conference room.
Explaining the purpose of the meeting, the ACC’s Northern Regional Director, Fatu Florence Kamara, stressed the importance of taking anti-corruption messages to public institutions in line with Section 7 of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2008 (as amended in 2019). She noted that the session was purely educational, aimed at equipping public officers with vital knowledge on the dangers of corruption and the need to uphold due process and ethical standards. Mrs. Kamara urged staff to maintain integrity, establish Integrity Management Committees, open Gift Registers, and report corruption using the ACC’s toll-free hotlines 077985985 or 077986986.
Mrs. Kamara also drew attention to increasing reports of unethical practices within local courts in the district. According to her, complaints received by the ACC allege that some court chairmen impose excessive fines, unauthorized charges, and preside over cases outside their jurisdiction for personal gain. She warned that such practices not only violate the Anti-Corruption Act but also risk provoking public unrest, which could threaten community peace and security. She therefore called on the SDO to use his administrative authority to support the ACC in engaging all local court chairmen on these issues.
Speaking on the legal framework underpinning the fight against corruption, Senior Public Education Officer, Aiah Sourie, explained the evolution of anti-corruption laws in Sierra Leone. He highlighted that the Anti-Corruption Act of 2000 created the ACC and defined nine offences but did not grant it prosecutorial powers, leaving such authority with the Attorney-General’s Office. He described the 2008 Act as a watershed moment, expanding offences to 27 and empowering the ACC to directly prosecute cases. The 2019 amendment, he added, introduced additional offences, harsher penalties, and provisions for out-of-court settlements to recover misappropriated funds with a 10% interest surcharge.
Responding to the engagement, Senior District Officer Augustine Fatorma commended the ACC for its proactive prevention efforts through education, describing the session as “timely and significant.” He praised the Commission’s leadership in curbing corruption and pledged his office’s full support. Mr. Fatorma further disclosed that the ACC would be invited to address local court chairmen at the District Office’s next fortnightly meeting on 3rd September 2025.
The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer segment, during which participants sought clarifications on corruption-related issues and discussed practical ways to strengthen integrity and accountability in local governance.
