In compliance with Section 7 Subsections (1) and (2) of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 (amended in 2019), the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) regional office in Kono held a customized meeting with the executive and general membership of Bike Riders Union (BRU) in Koidu City. Held on 24 September 2025 at the Union’s Konomanyi Park office, the meeting was designed to raise awareness of corruption among union members. It further provided an opportunity to discuss corruption prevention strategies in order to enable the Union deliver quality service to the public.
Welcoming the ACC staff, the BRU vice chairperson Jimmy T. K. Yongai applauded the Commission for taking the initiative to inform his members about corruption issues. Mr. Yongai disclosed that the union came into existence in 2003 to alleviate transport constraints in the district mainly due to deplorable road conditions. He further stated that BRU members are mostly dynamic youth who would have been involved in crimes and other social ills such as drug abuse, if they had not been engaged in the profession. He concluded by pledging unflinching support to comply with all the recommendations from the ACC team.
In her presentation, the ACC Public Education Officer Patricia J. Sannoh, re-echoed the rationale for the meeting stressing that it would provide an enabling environment for the Union to identify and discuss corruption opportunities, anti-corruption measures in their regular operations, and how to address public complaints and concerns about their jobs. Ms. Sannoh also encouraged her audience to give unflinching support to the cause against the scourge of corruption.
ACC’s Senior Public Education officer, Sam P. Gogra, referred to the BRU members as youth who are the engine of national development drives. Mr. Gogra added that young people constitute the majority of the population and they should actively participate in promoting transparency and accountability in both the public and private sectors. He suggested that the BRU should cooperate with the ACC by resisting and reporting corruption at all times.
Mr Gogra however highlighted some complaints and concerns raised by the public and other union members including the undue inflation of transport fares, recklessness of some commercial bike riders, and the misuse of funds belonging to the BRU by some executive members. He emphasized that monies collected on behalf of the Union should be accounted for as that will stave off corruption and increase confidence in union membership. He further stated that the Commission now has a more robust mandate to investigate and prosecute corruption, making it a zero-profit venture.
As regards recovery of stolen funds, the senior public officer mentioned that huge cash recovery and properties have been made under the present leadership of Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., the people’s Commissioner. He urged the attendees to support the Commission in achieving more gains in the fight against graft by rejecting and resisting it in their organization, and by reporting it to the Commission.
Mohamed Fayia, the District Chairman of the Union applauded the ACC team for the sensitization drive referring to it as ‘important, timely, and educative’. He added that his members are playing significant roles in the transport sector by transporting people and goods in the district. ‘Our members are always present in the remotest and hard-to-reach communities in the district to ensure that necessities reach the poor and vulnerable’’ he said, assuring the ACC team of the BRU’s unwavering support in the fight against corruption.
